Kit Siang turns down Najib’s debate offer

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 23 May 2019 6:07PM · 13 Comments

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang says the fight against corruption, power abuse and crimes like money-laundering is not a racial or religious issue, but one concerning good values and governance. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, May 23, 2019.

FEARING that a debate with Najib Razak will turn into a racial conflict, Lim Kit Siang has turned down the former prime minister’s offer.

The DAP supremo said there is a great likelihood that a debate on “how Malaysia became a global kleptocracy and how we can become a leading nation of integrity” could morph into a Malay v Chinese clash.

He said the fight against corruption, power abuse and crimes like money-laundering is not a racial or religious issue, but one concerning good values and governance.

“I have decided not to proceed with the debate with Najib,” said Lim in a statement today. 

Calling Najib the “most malignant political force” in Malaysia’s history, Lim said his first thought when the former prime minister had challenged him was whether he should debate with a “kleptocrat and a pathological or habitual liar”.

He said that although he had initially agreed to the debate – appointing his aides to liaise with Najib’s officers to finalise details of the debate for after Hari Raya – he was advised by many Malaysians against it.

“For the past 48 hours, I have been inundated with an avalanche of advice through email, WhatsApp and even by phone, including by Malaysians from overseas, 99% of whom urged me not to debate with Najib at all.”

He said a Malay academician warned him that the debate was a trap that would lead to Najib winning favour irrespective of any salient points Lim were to bring up.

“I know my decision will be greeted with tempests of allegations that I am a coward. My 53 years in politics is an open book for Malaysians to judge whether I am a coward or not, and I am always prepared to subject myself to the judgement of Malaysians.  

“However, there is one thing I will not compromise (on) – the higher interests of the nation and Malaysians,” said the Iskandar Puteri MP.

On Tuesday, Najib had invited Lim to debate him on any subject of his choosing.

The Pekan MP said a debate with Lim – whom Najib described as “obsessed” with him – would allow both of them to make their stand on various issues and let the people judge for themselves.

Najib said Lim could ask him anything, even about the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal, in a freestyle exchange that he would be ready to engage in at any time.

“(And) I can ask him anything. In the spirit of a healthy democracy, he should take up the challenge,” Najib had said.

“If he is free enough to write multiple statements every day, he should certainly be free to debate,” he had said. – May 23, 2019.

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Comments

  • LKS, you made the right decision. Don't fall into the lanun trap

    Posted 4 years ago by JOHN LOOI · Reply

  • LKS, you made the right decision. Don't fall into the lanun trap

    Posted 4 years ago by JOHN LOOI · Reply

  • Good move LKS!

    Posted 4 years ago by SY L · Reply

  • We know this fromthe past and this liar Najib has no shame and he can just spin and lie without any sense of guilt or shame

    Posted 4 years ago by SY L · Reply

  • Yes, never bother with the king of lies, king of thieves and degrade your excellent track record and crystal clear standing

    Posted 4 years ago by Concerned Citizen · Reply

  • Why only now DSN wants to debate with anyone? When he was in power, he never responded to any debate challenge esp from DSA

    Posted 4 years ago by Leng Kapri As Saribasi · Reply

    • Till today he has not dare to throw the challenge to Mahatir.!!!!

      Posted 4 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • LKS --- A very rationale decision. No one or any Malaysian will dare to call you a coward. It takes a hero to turn down a non value debate. Everyone knows that you will win hands down. Luckily sanity prevail as the temptation to fill up the cabinets of "another one bite the dust" trophy is very hard to resist especially a high prized kleptocrat. Save the vacant spot for someone more worth while than him. Go and enjoy your life and ensure that Mahatir fulfill his promises. That is more a challenging task.

    Posted 4 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Smart move. Let Jib totally deprived of public exposure. He had done too much damage to the country.

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Najib already lost the debate in GE14 as voters recognized him as a true kleptocrat and condemned him out of his office.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • just what Jibby wanted
    Good move LKS

    Posted 4 years ago by Lan Lan · Reply

  • Simply shows LKS is way above and beyond the reach of the king of thieves and liars. LKS is MP for ALL Malaysians irrespective of race or religion unlike those who claimed they were protecting for the interests of their own kind but only to pocket the contracts and cash for themselves only. And that's not enough. they even emptied the poor fellows cookies jar.

    Posted 4 years ago by Concerned Citizen · Reply