PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu today said that he would step aside and let PAS Youth take on Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin in a debate on the Bukit Kepong incident.

NONE Contacted by Malaysiakini , Mohamad, who sparked controversy over the 1950 incident in a recent speech, said this was because PAS Youth “is better suited” ( layak ) to take on an Umno Youth wing representative.

“I’m leaving it to PAS Youth. He (Khairy) is an intelligent person whom I respect. Let him face PAS Youth,” he said.

Pressed further, Mohamad who is better known as Mat Sabu, insisted that he was not declining the challenge.

“I’m not declining. Let the youth debate with other youth as they are better suited,” he added.

Mat Sabu picks Johor PAS Youth wing

Mat Sabu also said that it was best for the Johor PAS Youth wing to take on Khairy as the incident had taken place in that state.

Yesterday, Khairy said on microblogging site Twitter that he has accepted an invitation from the Kelantan government to debate the matter at Balai Islam, Kota Baru, at the end of this month.

The Rembau MP had also reportedly said he was not willing to take on anyone but Mat Sabu in the debate, which is also expected to include the history of pre-independent Malaya.

Mat Sabu has been under fire for claiming in a speech that insurgent Muhammad Indera, better known as Mat Indera, who had attacked the Bukit Kepong police station, was the real hero and not the Malay police officers who served the British government.

KJ: Mat Sabu too scared to debate me