Najib wants debate with Kit Siang on other topics too, to be telecast live after Raya and now he has more time, can debate even Dr M.
Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak has agreed to the debate topic proposed by DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.
Apart from Lim’s proposal, however, Najib also wants other topics discussed.
“Lim has agreed to debate with me. He proposed the following topic: ‘How Malaysia became a global kleptocracy and how we can become a leading nation of integrity’.
“I accept the topic, but in fairness, we should also discuss other topics during the debate,” he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.
Najib suggested that the debate be telecast live after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
“My officers will contact Lim’s officers to organise the debate,” he said.
Earlier today, Lim said Najib had not responded to several serious allegations against him.
This was after Najib claimed that the DAP leader was obsessed with him, and suggested that it would be better if they debated.
“Najib accuses me of being obsessed with him. He cannot be more wrong,” Lim had said.
“I would not be interested in him one bit if he does not have the dubious distinction of being the single Malaysian who had wrought the greatest damage to Malaysia, both to present and future generations, with his kleptocratic legacy.
“In the circumstances, should one debate with a kleptocrat, a pathological or habitual liar?
“Probably, the best subject for debate is ‘How Malaysia became a global kleptocracy and how we can become a leading nation of integrity’. The ball is in Najib’s court.”
In an interview with FMT, Najib said a debate with Lim would allow the public to judge them on their stand on certain issues.
“He can ask me anything, even 1MDB. And I can ask him anything. In the spirit of a healthy democracy, he should take up the challenge,” he said.
Earlier today, Najib said he now has more free time to take on his political opponents, including Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said he had not attended the ‘Nothing2Hide’ forum in 2015 due to his busy schedule as prime minister then.
“I understand that a PM’s job can be hectic, but if the seventh PM feels he has the time and wants to debate me, I will accept the challenge,” he said on his Facebook page.
A second “Nothing2Hide” forum was arranged in 2017.
Najib said Mahathir was still an Umno member in 2015 and it would be odd for members of the same party to debate with each other.
He said he had never rejected the idea of debating with his opponents, after critics cited a news report which quoted him as saying that debating was not part of Malaysian culture.
“If you read carefully, I had also said that holding a debate would depend on the situation. I never rejected the idea of a debate.
“What is important is for us to be well informed in order to make a choice,” he said.