Anwar takes up Najib’s debate challenge
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said he is willing to debate with former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak concerning Sapura Energy Bhd (SEB).
“I take note of the debate challenge thrown by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak,” Anwar said in a post on his official Facebook account yesterday.
The Port Dickson Member of Parliament said his stand on debates had been consistent the past 10 years as he had thrown a similar challenge to Najib before but it was not accepted.
“Now he has chosen to challenge me at the start of the Ramadan month after failing to address Rafizi Ramli’s protestation on the Sapura bailout issue at a time when the people are poor and petty traders not looked after,” Anwar said.
On Sunday, Najib was reported to have said he would accept former Pandan MP Rafizi’s challenge to a debate if Anwar also participates.
Rafizi had earlier challenged Najib to a debate on the SEB issue.
Najib said in a Facebook post yesterday that he is is ready to debate Anwar.
“Game on. Please contact my assistant to find the soonest date convenient for all,” said the former prime minister.
“I ask the teams of Anwar and Rafizi to arrange with the media if they intend the debate to be live,” he added.
Najib said he was perplexed by Anwar’s recent claim that he had challenged Anwar to a debate after failing to counter allegations raised by Rafizi.
“The first to make a challenge was Rafizi a day or two before the start of Ramadan,” Najib said, adding that he had rubbished Rafizi’s claims on several occasions previously.