I thought Liow as brave as Soi Lek but no: Guan Eng

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has challenged MCA president Liow Tiong Lai to debate over two burning issues - 1MDB and the Penang undersea tunnel project.

Lim said a debate between him and Liow would be appropriate as both are top party leaders.

"I have given him hints that if he challenges me to a debate like how former MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek did, I would accept the challenge as it would be a debate between two party leaders," Lim said at a press conference in Georgetown today.

"I though Liow would be as brave as Chua but until today, there is no indication he would take up my challenge to debate with him over these issues," he added.

"I feel a debate between him and I would get the attention of the rakyat."

Lim to date has snubbed MCA deputy chief Wee Ka Siong who has repeatedly challenged Lim to a debate on the undersea tunnel project.

He wants to debate with Liow instead, dismissing Wee as only second in command in MCA while the top two leaders in DAP and MCA are him and Liow (photo) respectively.

Wee wants to debate Lim on the project as he claims the project is a scandal with the MACC questioning 100 and nabbing five high-ranking suspects to date connected to the RM6.3 billion tunnel project.

Lim, on his part, said Pakatan Harapan leaders have already named those allegedly involved in the 1MDB fiasco, including “Malaysian Official 1” and Penang-born businessperson Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.

The alleged 1MDB money-laundering activities are the subject of a major probe by six countries, including the US Department of Justice which has mentioned “M01” at least 37 times in its probe and named Jho Low as a beneficiary of the "stolen" money.

Leaders named

Government minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan had name Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as “MO1” though the premier had consistently denied any wrongdoing, with the attorney-general clearing his name of any illegal activity related to the sovereign wealth fund.

In relation to a civil forfeiture suit by the DOJ to recover what it says are misappropriated funds from 1MDB, a superyacht named Equanimity was seized by Indonesian authorities early this month.

The Malaysian government denied any link between the yacht and 1MDB.

"We have named themwhile BN, MCA or Umno leaders are yet to name the Penang state government officials who allegedly received millions from the undersea tunnel project," Lim said.

"That is why we hope there can be a debate between Liow and me. We will then let the people decide

"The debate between Liow and me would follow procedures, protocol and common courtesy," he assured. -Mkini