The Tenang by-election campaign is a perfect platform for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to debate PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim over Pakatan Rakyat’s 100-day reform plan, said PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub.

NONE Salahuddin ( left ) said that Najib should not reject Anwar’s debate dare if he was brave and consistent in his commitment to keeping the rakyat informed.

“There is no reason for him to reject this challenge. In fact, Pakatan Rakyat’s leadership has agreed that if Najib was afraid of using the word ‘debate’, we can call it a diskusi ilmiah (academic discussion),” said Salahuddin.

Speaking at a press conference at the DAP operation centre in Labis, Salahuddin said that the debate was necessary because of repeated allegations that the country would be bankrupt if Pakatan implements its 100-day reform plan.

The 10-point reform agenda, to be implemented within the first 100 days of capturing Putrajaya, includes increasing the oil royalties for less-developed states such as Sabah and Sarawak, increasing civil servants’ pay and taking over tolled highways to make them free.

BN leaders were quick to claim that Pakatan’s agenda would bankrupt the country, prompting Anwar to challenge Najib to debate the viability of the 100-day reform plan.

Even before the Tenang campaign officially got under way, Najib told Felda Chemplak folk that he was not afraid of a debate with Anwar and the latter would suffer from a “fever” if the event actually took place.

tenang by election day 1 230111 normala greets traders Salahuddin also denied allegations by Labis MP Chua Tee Yong that PAS candidate Normala Sudirman ( right in pic ) had questioned a restaurant owner for selling alcohol at the owner’s premises.

“Normala vehemently denies this malicious accusation. It was designed to create doubt and fear among the Chinese voters,” he said.

Salahuddin said PAS challenges Chua to furnish proof of the alleagtion.

Felda minister challenged as well

In a related development, Johor PAS information chief Mazlan Aliman said that PAS will submit a letter challenging Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Ahmad Maslan to a debate over the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda).

Ahmad Maslan, who oversees Felda, has been engaged in a war of words with PAS and PKR over the federal government’s management of Felda’s assets and its treatment of Felda settlers.

The opposition is trying to draw Felda settlers’ attention to the suits filed by their counterparts in Negeri Sembilan and Kelantan, which alleged that the government was shortchanging them.

The suit filed by Felda Kemahang 3 settlers was successful and the Federal Court has ordered Felda to pay the settlers RM11 million.