Wee slams Guan Eng's refusal to debate tunnel issue with him

PETALING JAYA: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's refusal to accept a challenge to debate over the undersea tunnel controversy was because he knew that he will lose badly, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said.
Wee, who had issued the challenge on Monday, said Lim realised that his "illogical" arguments over the controversy would not stand up if it were to be brought in a live public debate.
Wee also ridiculed Lim for writing a lengthy five-page statement in stating his reason to turn down the debate offer.
"I am however surprised with the length of his press statement ... in trying to justify his cowardice not to accept the debate," he said.
"He can write 50 or 500 more pages of excuses but the fact remains that Guan Eng is not brave enough to publicly debate me on the Penang Tunnel scandal," he said in a press statement.
On Tuesday, Lim, who is also the DAP secretary-general, dismissed Wee's debate offer, stating that the MCA no 2 was not qualified to make such challenge.
Lim added he would only agree for a debate with MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, with a condition that the debate must also include the issue of 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
Wee also pointed out that Lim was ranked second in DAP after his father Kit Siang, thus being on par with the former.
He also raised argument over the need for Lim to question his qualification for a debate, stating that the duo had been exchanging press statements over the issue for more than a month.
"It seems that Guan Eng does not understand that this tunnel issue is about him in the capacity of the Chief Minister of Penang and his management of billions in state assets, and funds and has nothing to do with partisan politics," Wee said.
Wee also told DAP to stop claiming itself as a transparent government of Penang if Lim could not even dare to go for a debate.
In berating the chief minister, Wee said Lim could simply inform him if the latter had a change of mind or "suddenly be man enough" for the debate.
"I am ready to debate Guan Eng on the Penang tunnel in Malay, Chinese or English languages anytime he wishes," he said.
"Regardless of his decision, I will continue to expose how DAP's corrupt practises over this one project alone have resulted in current and potential losses in the tens of billions to the Penang people," he added.