Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today reiterated his readiness to enter into a nationally televised debate with his predecessor Koh Tsu Koon.

"I'm prepared to debate with the Gerakan president and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department without pre-conditions, anytime, anyplace, anywhere, even at the Gerakan headquarters,"said the DAP secretary-general.

"I'm willing to face Koh on the Kampung Buah Pala or any land issue."

The current and previous state administrations have been locked in a bitter verbal battle over who is to blame for the Kampung Buah Pala land dispute.

NONE He said the DAP was disappointed that Koh has shown his trademark indecisiveness and evasiveness by setting pre-conditions before the nationally televised debate can happen.

Lim ( left ) was responding to Koh's earlier statement about the issue.

Yesterday, the Gerakan president said he was willing to a debate with Lim but only if two conditions were met.

Koh demanded that Lim make public all relevant documents including minutes of state exco meetings and answer "fully and truthfully" three simple basic questions on the Kampung Buah Pala issue.

"If Koh dare not debate without any conditions one on one, how can he stand up to Umno's corruption and political dominance that denies equal political rights, equal economic opportunities and socio-economic justice?" asked Lim.

‘ Koh avoiding debate'

Lim explained that Koh had issued the challenge to debate with him when Koh attended the Penang Gerakan annual general meeting on Aug 30.

The Penang CM said that he immediately replied, accepting Koh's challenge, but only if Koh himself debated with him.

"Koh did not take up the challenge, but instead sent Gerakan Youth as his proxies," added Lim.

Lim alleged that Penang Gerakan chairman Teng Hock Nan even tried to help out Koh avoid the debate by claiming that Koh only made a suggestion and did not challenge him to the debate.

NONE "Under pressure, Koh ( left ) has pretended to accept the nationally televised debate," said Lim, "but the pre-conditions for the debate brings Koh's willingness and sincerity into question."

"Koh's indecisiveness and evasiveness has not changed at all, even after the ‘308' political tsunami. He is still the same Koh Tsu Koon.

"He lost more than 10,000 votes during the 2008 general election, precisely because of his indecisive and evasive nature," said Lim.

He also said Koh should explain his double standards and inconsistency in fighting corruption, asking how the Gerakan president can support BN leaders convicted of graft.

"How he can talk of political morality and ethics but yet support the Umno and BN candidate for Bagan Pinang who was suspended for money politics and described as unsuitable by ex-PM Dr Mahathir?" asked Lim.

Both Lim and Koh had a televised debate over land issues in August last year.