DO not try to act like a hero when you backed down on several debate challenges in the past, former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
“I just can’t stand Lim’s repulsive stunts. Yesterday, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong had agreed to debate him on Nov 2, which is after Budget 2022 speech, using TV3’s platform.
“But Lim was dissatisfied and told Wee that the latter shouldn’t use the budget speech to delay the debate despite Nov 2 being only two weeks from now.
“Is the budget speech not important? Does Lim think that Wee’s contribution to Budget 2022, in his capacity as the transport minister, doesn’t matter at all?” he asked, in a Facebook post.
Lim has been on Wee’s tail since Sept 30 after the latter denied claims that his decision to revoke cabotage policy exemption set by the previous Pakatan Harapan Government had nothing to with several tech giants’ decision to skip Malaysia in their plans to install undersea cables to boost Internet connectivity in the region.
This prompted Lim to argue that the minister was lying, as Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa had issued a written reply to Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim stating that Malaysia was not listed to join the Apricot Subsea Cable System Project by Google and Facebook owing to the cabotage policy issue.
Ever since then, the Bagan MP had been demanding Wee to debate him on live television on the matter, which the Ayer Hitam MP had agreed yesterday.
“I have never backed away from such challenges. You want a debate, you’re on. The producer from TV3 had also called my office and proposed Nov 2 for it, which I immediately agreed.
“As I have said before, let’s have the debate any time after Budget 2022 speech,” Wee was reported as saying.
Hurling brickbats at Lim, Najib reminded the former that he himself had refused to debate Wee in the past on several matters despite being challenged to do so.
You ran away twice, Lim!
Back in 2018, he added, Lim had refused to debate Wee on the Penang undersea tunnel project controversy.
“Lim’s excuse? Wee was not MCA’s president and being the DAP’s supremo, he would only debate a fellow party president.
“And in 2019, Wee again challenged Lim to debate on the funds allocated to Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (KTAR) which was allegedly diverted to foundations aligned to the DAP leader instead of being channelled directly to the varsity. Lim’s decision then courted anger among its students.
“What was Lim’s excuse then? He conveniently said that the issue doesn’t warrant a debate. So, don’t try to act courageous when you ran away twice,” Najib noted.
The Pekan MP also ridiculed Lim’s father, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, for also backing out from a debate challenge in 2019 issued by the former on how Malaysia became a global kleptocracy.
“Kit Siang himself challenged me to a debate in 2019 on the subject matter, which I accepted, and he himself bailed out on it.
“And I still remember Kit Siang’s ludicrous excuse. He said that a debate with me may cause racial problems,” Najib concluded. – Oct 19, 2021.
Pic credit: Free Malaysia Today/The Borneo Post
