No one from PN dares debate me on economy, says Rafizi

Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli revealed that he has received a response from Bachok MP Mohd Syahir Sulaiman regarding his debate challenge.

Based on Syahir’s response, Rafizi concluded that no one in Perikatan Nasional (PN) is brave enough to step forward to accept his challenge to a debate on the economy.

“From the former economy minister from PN to PN’s smartest economic technocrat – none of them dare to present their economic agenda,” he said.

Syahir (above, right)yesterday said he was waiting for Rafizi’s letter challenging him to debate on economic matters.

Rafizi, the PKR deputy president, had shifted the target of his challenge to Syahir after Kedah caretaker menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and Selangor PN chairperson Azmin Ali rejected his overtures.

Two days ago, Azmin placed a condition that Rafizi should first prove that this government has been successful in the implementation and recovery of the country’s economy.

Meanwhile, in the response letter which Rafizi revealed, Syahir said he was of the same opinion as Sanusi that their energy and time would be better used to focus on providing service and resolving the rakyat’s problems.

However, Syahir said he was always ready to have a dialogue with any party in an open, mature, and harmonious manner, as they did in the 14th general election.

When asked to confirm whether the answer means he rejected a debate with Rafizi, Syahir said yes and once again stressed that he was following in the footsteps of his “senior” Sanusi.

Best way

“I have answered his invite and I have answered his poem,” Syahir said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

Rafizi initially wanted to debate with Sanusi in order to sow a culture of competitive ideas to help the rakyat, rather than focusing on the rhetoric of who is more Malay.

He gave Sanusi the freedom to choose the topic as long as it involved economic matters, such as the construction of airports or the welfare of the poor.

The minister, who said he is ready at any time for the debate during the state election campaigning period, believes a debate would be the best way to keep Sanusi from belittling his opponents.

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