Shahidan denies planning debate between Dr Asri and Zamihan

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim said that he had no intention of making the proposed "Ekstremisme Agama di Malaysia: Satu Diskusi" (Religious Extremism In Malaysia: A Discussion" as an arena for debate.

He said the invitation extended to Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin and Malaysian Ahli Sunnah Waljamaah Organisation (Aswaja) president Zamihan Mat Zin to become panel members was to discuss issues on religion in an academic manner.

"I want to explain here that I have never issued a statement wanting to hold a debate between them, except to hold a closed academic discussion," he told reporters here Saturday.

He was responding to a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir, who said it was unnecessary to hold the discussion.

Shahidan was met after giving away mandarin oranges to the Chinese community in the Indera Kayang state constituency in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration at Dewan Bukit Kaya, Taman Bukit Kaya here.

The programme is not organised to see who wins or loses, but to resolve current problems of the ummah and has been approved by the people at the top, he added.

“No one wants to come forward to solve the problems and I feel it my responsibility to do something so that the problems could be resolved through discussion, not to blame one another," he added.

The discussion is scheduled to be held on at 9 pm this Wednesday at the Civil Defence Department Hall, Kuala Lumpur.