PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli said he is "proud" to receive a letter of demand from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor.

"I feel proud for receiving a summons from a prime minister for defending the rights of the people in demanding an oil subsidy of at least 30 sen a litre," he added in a statement today.

The opposition lawmaker said he was merely advocating for a 30 sen oil subsidy in the current situation when the leadership of the country is arbitrarily spending taxpayer's money on projects such as 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Rafizi is the second politician to receive a letter of demand from Najib, after Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, who last month received a letter of demand over his comments on 1MDB.

Earlier this June, Najib also raised eyebrows for threatening legal action against Malaysiakini for readers' comments on his performance and Umno.

The letter to Rafizi was sent today on behalf of Najib, in his personal capacity, and his wife.

 

However, the Pandan MP also said he had expected that Najib would take legal action against him.

"I believe it has something to do with the constant stream of criticism from the two of us (Rafizi and Pua) about 1MDB," he said.

Letter of demand 'timely'

Rafizi said he had openly stated he is ready to debate with any Umno leader, but until today, no one has taken up his challenge.

"Until now, not a single soul from Umno', whether their information chief or even the Youth chief, has dared to debate on the oil subsidy issue,” he said.

Rafizi pointed out in that sense, Najib's letter of demand had arrived at the right time.

"In the circumstance of Umno having none of its leaders bold enough to openly debate, Najib (who is also Umno president) should step up and answer the points I raised in public,” he said.

Rafizi also used the occasion to again challenge Najib to an open debate with de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim on the issue of oil subsidy.

"In the meantime, I will answer Najib's letter and will be ready to testify in court,” he said.

He believes Najib would use the hearing to testify on 1MDB, pension funds and other cases related to his decision to sever the subsidy.

The letter of demand was in relation to Rafizi’s speech at an event in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 22, a recording of which was uploaded by Media Rakyat on You Tube.

The letter of demand said that Rafizi’s speech was defamatory as he accused Najib and Rosmah, among others, of "manipulating the price of petrol for their own benefit", "spending more than RM20 million of people's monies on a ring", "stealing the people's monies for their own benefit", and "conspiring against the nation in bad practices".

It also said that Rafizi's statements caused Najib and Rosmah “tremendous distress and embarrassment” and that the allegations are “entirely baseless and false”.

Rafizi has 14 days from today to issue and publish "a full and unequivocal written apology” and to take down the video.

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