Isham agrees to debate Rafizi, while the latter calls him out for inaccuracy

SHAH ALAM - Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) Information Chief Isham Jalil has agreed to debate with PKR vice president Rafizi Ramli if PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim refuses to participate in the debate with former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Isham stated that he was ready to go against Rafizi, which was suggested by Najib.

"I agree," he said in a brief response to Sinar Harian on Sunday.

Najib, through his latest statement, responded to the debate challenge by Rafizi but stated that it had to be joined by Anwar and if the Opposition Leader did not want to join in the debate, then Rafizi would be the one debating with Isham.

Meanwhile, Isham said that Rafizi was not on the same level as the former prime minister for debate but instead only wanted to ride on Najib's popularity after not being active in politics for the past three years.

Isham claimed that the challenge made by Rafizi was a tactic for him to regain popularity to contest for PKR vice-president position against PKR secretary-general, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail during the PKR party election.

“I figured before he starts to debate with Bossku (Najib), it is better for him to be in a debate with Saifuddin Nasution,” he said.

Isham also offered himself to be in a debate with Anwar.

"Previously, he (Rafizi) lost the semi-finals when I won the best speaker of the Prime Minister's Cup debate in 1991. He only won in 1992. Now, perhaps he wants to repeat the debate with me. I'll just wait," he said.

Rafizi later responded to Isham's posting stating that he had no interest in entertaining these childish behaviours by both Najib and the latter but proceeded to highlight how they manipulate facts to influence and attract their readers.

"Isham Jalil's Lies: 1) I lost the semi-finals when he won in 91 (1991). I did not even participate, I was F2 (form 2)!

"2) He said in 92 (1992) I won, saying that I only won after he won. He did not say that I won the Prime Minister's Cup in 1992 and was awarded best debater beating him. He hid that part because he is ashamed among his own Umno gang," he posted on Twitter late last night.

Rafizi said these were the tricks by Najib's social media account administrators that like to create things that are not true, and hide and manipulate facts to make him seem great amongst his loyal followers in Umno.

He said Najib does not realise that the people not everyone believes him, there are people who are able to tell the difference thus why he needs to present facts.