Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan has responded to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who accused Rahman of being a coward.

In a series of tweets, the minister explained the reason as to the shelving of his planned debate with the DAP leader, and also touched on Lim's corruption case.

“Our planned debate was stopped on advice of PDRM (the police). Events showed this was the right decision. Shortly later, Guan Eng was charged with two counts of corruption,” Rahman said.

Furthermore, he pointed out, unlike Lim, Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad are not under investigation over their debate topics.

“I can't believe Lim doesn't understand this crucial difference,” he said.

Earlier today, Lim described Nazri as a “warrior” for agreeing to debate with Mahathir, unlike Rahman, whom the chief minister claimed was a “chicken”.

Lim said he had looked forward to debating with Rahman, when the latter held the urban wellbeing, housing and local government portfolio, over the Penang government's sale of a plot of land in Taman Manggis.

In April last year, Rahman challenged Lim to a public debate on the issue, but the police were against it on grounds that it would affect their ongoing investigations.

Rahman did not pursue the matter and instead urged Lim to sue him for alleging that there were improprieties in the sale of the land.

Meanwhile, the minister also tweeted how Lim had forgotten the face-off with other opposition figures in public and Parliament, such as DAP's MP Tony Pua, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli and many more.

As for Lim's corruption case, Rahman said the Penang chief minister was delaying his trial with various challenges.

“Now Lim claims the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) Act is unconstitutional, although used for many years. Dozens of others, including the ex-Selangor menteri besar, were convicted under the same charge.

“Thought he would welcome clearing his name as soon as possible, instead of delay tactics,” he added.

On Monday, Lim's case, which was scheduled to commence on March 27, was postponed until his and businesswoman Phang Li Koon's appeal to challenge the MACC Act is settled.