Guan Eng-Tsu Koon spar before debate

Lim denies imposing conditions for the debate.

Koh wants access to past government records. — Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 — In a prelude to their upcoming debate on alleged land scams in the northern island state, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his predecessor Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon are already throwing barbs at each other.

Both have agreed in principle to participate in the debate arranged by Agendadaily.com — the news website that organised the successful debate between Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek last month.

The debate is scheduled in Shah Alam on Aug 20. It is expected to be broadcast live by one of the Media Prima TV stations.

Lim had claimed that Koh's state administration was allegedly involved in a RM124 million land scam which the former Penang chief minister refuted, arguing that Lim was trying to politicise the issue.

Agendadaily.com moved in to offer them a ring to slug it out in the open as both have been throwing each other challenges to a debate and sparring in public space much like professional wrestlers.

However while the proposed debate would cover a wide range of topics, Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, has insisted that it should focus on their original argument — the alleged land scam.

In the latest development today, Lim denied he had imposed conditions for the debate, saying that it was Koh who refused to fulfil his promise to meet him in private to discuss the matter earlier.

"I had said that I would participate in the debate if that is the only way to find out the truth and those responsible for these land scams.

"I do not see the relevance of Koh accusing me of being afraid when all I want is to get to the bottom of the land scam that has seriously affected our state's finances and development plans," he said in a statement.

He added that he had accepted the debate without conditions even though it would be organised by the Internet news website and moderated by Datuk Johan Jaafar, "both leaning towards Umno and Barisan Nasional".

"Since our argument is about the land scam, we should stick to the topic. I'm willing to debate on other issues but it should be in another forum or debate. At the moment, let us focus on the land scam issue," he told The Malaysian Insider when contacted today.

Lim also said the Penang state exco would decide on Koh's request to have access to his past government records and was willing to declassify the former Penang BN government records to prepare him for the debate.

Koh had also earlier demanded that Lim retract and stop mentioning his repeated allegations on the land scam since March pertaining to what the Gerakan leader described as a potential loss of RM40 million by the state government.

"How can I retract my statements about the land scam even before the debate? And the land scam is a fact that I will never retract when even the former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya admitted that the previous government had made a mistake which Hilmi accepted full responsibility," Lim replied.

Upset with Koh's allegation that he lacked bravery and courage, the Penang chief minister has asked his detractors to look at his record of being found guilty for sedition under the Printing Press and Publication Act for defending an underage Malay rape victim who was detained by the authorities whilst her rapists got away.

"I was sentenced to 18 months in Kajang prison, lost my civil and political rights, lost my qualification as MP in 1998 and was not allowed to contest in elections until 2008," he added.

-TMI