Penang Umno Youth has challenged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to file a suit against BN strategic communication director Abdul Rahman Dahlan for defamation.

The wing’s chief Rafizal Abdul Rahim said the DAP secretary-general must be an anak jantan (be a man) and haul Abdul Rahman to court to prove that he was indeed a victim of slander.

“Lim is known for taking legal action, but he appears to be passive (in this issue).

“He appears to be only active in responding to the allegations against him through the social media and media statements but why not sue? So Umno Youth challenges him to do so.

“If Lim has nothing to fear – brave because he is right, or fearful because he is wrong – be an anak jantan... Don’t only crow from outside the ring,” he was quoted as saying by Umno Online .

Rafizal was responding to Abdul Rahman who challenged Lim to take him to court over the Taman Manggis land issue.

The BN leader made the statement after Lim claimed that Abdul Rahman failed as a minister since the proposed debate between the two was cancelled.

However, the DAP leader accused the housing, local government and urban well-being minister of being “desperate”.

"Abdul Rahman is so desperate to chicken out of his own debate challenge that he is now issuing a new challenge me, to sue him in court for defamation,"

“He knows that if I sue him for defamation, he can easily use the excuse of sub judice as the reason for not debating me," Lim added.

The Taman Manggis controversy cropped up after Umno alleged that the sale of the land had links to Lim's purchase of a RM2.5 million bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn.

The bungalow was purchased below market price.

Their debate was called off based on the advise by the police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) which are investigating the matter.

Lim has denied the allegation, claiming that it was the work of his political rivals.