Rahman Dahlan-Guan Eng debate postponed, Twitter row ensues
(The Star) – Barisan Nasional strategic communications director Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng have engaged in a fresh war of words ahead of a much-awaited debate on the Taman Manggis land issue.
This time it was over the former’s decision to travel overseas just as plans were afoot to hold the debate sometime next week.
Now the debate will only be held after Abdul Rahman returns from his trip on Apr 15.
“I am going overseas tonight. Back by 15th. My trip was organized long time ago. Debate after the trip,” the Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister tweeted Friday night.
Lim could not resist taking a swipe at his Barisan counterpart, claiming that the proposed debate had now “lost steam”.
“Huh…Apa ini? (What is this?) Debate hilang stim lah (Debate has lost steam). I had earlier cut short my overseas trip to China to face you in Parliament,” he tweeted back.
“Does @mpkotabelud want to debate me overseas? Where? Come back lah! If I can cancel official China trip and rush back to face you in Parliament, why can’t you,” Lim queried in another tweet, tagging Abdul Rahman’s Twitter handle.
In response, the Kota Belud MP launched into a series of tweets claiming that Lim did not dare face him in Parliament.
He said the DAP secretary-general only rushed back from China because the Taman Manggis land issue had escalated.
“When did you face me? The fact is you desperately wanted (the) Speaker to eject you from Parliament. I was ready for you!
“In fact I was begging the Speaker not to eject you because I wanted you to be around to face me in parliamentary debate!” Abdul Rahman said.
He also retorted to Lim’s suggestion that the debate had “lost steam” by saying that he would offer his questions for the debate in advance so that the chief minister could prepare his answers.
“You nak stim? Up to you! Since you nak stim sangat, I give you a heads up. I will give you my questions in advance so you can prepare yourself,” he wrote.
He tweeted a further jibe after being told that his opposite number did not want his RM2.8mil bungalow purchase from Penang businesswoman Phang Ki Loon to be brought up during the debate.
“Hmmm…I was just told the other side supposedly doesn’t want Phang’s bungalow issue to be included in the debate. What do you think?” he asked his followers.
Lim replied saying he was ready for a “no holds barred debate”, as long as the Minister returned from his overseas trip.
“Can have a no holds barred debate no problem. Just come back from overseas. For God’s sake be a gentleman stand and debate,” he said.
Abdul Rahman had on Wednesday challenged Lim to a public debate on the two property issues in the state, after producing what he claimed was fresh evidence of corruption against the chief minister.
Lim duly accepted the challenge and said he was prepared to have the one-on-one debate telecast live on television.
