Deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has issued a fresh challenge to Parti Keadilan Rakyat's candidate Khalid Ibrahim in Ijok today to answer allegations pertaining to the purchase of Guthrie shares.

"I just want to make a statement that Khalid has not answered to what was said by the Deputy Prime Minister (Najib Abdul Razak) and I," he told reporters at MCA's operation centre in Ijok.

"The public and the Ijok residents are still waiting for his answer about the purchase of Guthrie shares that amounts to millions of ringgit," he said

Yesterday Najib said that Khalid wanted to own a 20 percent personal stake in Guthrie, starting with a 6.5 percent equity in the company.

He said Khalid, a former chief executive of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), sought a loan of RM175 million through Bank Islam for this purpose.

"This is the truth. He had difficulty to settle his loan (to obtain the remainder of the shares). Then he asked for an extension of the payment period but could not pay according to that schedule. We extended (the period) again but he could not pay as well.

"Finally, when the term was up he was unable to acquire the shares and was angry with the BN government," Najib was quoted saying in Bernama .

Khairy today clarified further by saying that the loan eventually became a non-performing loan (NPL) absorbed by Bank Islam as losses.

"The loan become a NPL (and this is) a fact and a reality that effects his credibility as a corporate leader in Malaysia who has failed to pay the loan.

"He also bought those additional shares at a lower price at RM2.30 when PNB was selling it for RM2.98.

"So this is what we want to say to voters that Khalid has a track record of not paying loans," he said.

'Sue me too'

He also challenged PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim to answer allegations that he assisted Khalid in gaining hold of Guthrie shares when he was deputy premier and finance minister.

Unaware that Khalid had replied on this matter earlier this morning, Khairy was informed by malaysiakini that Khalid had instructed his lawyers to initiate a defamation suit against Najib over the remarks that were deemed 'false and unfounded'.

"If he wants to sue Najib and wants to sue myself, then so be it," he replied bluntly.

Khalid earlier today refuted Najib's claims and disclaimed Anwar of any involvement in the deal.