DAP confirms Taman Manggis debate, wants ‘free-for-all’

(MMO) – DAP today confirmed that the debate between Penang Chief Minister and Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan will be held on April 19, but said the topic should not be limited to the sale of land in Penang that allegedly involved corruption.

The party’s national organising secretary, Anthony Loke, said he met with Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak to discuss the debate between the urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister and Lim.

Loke said he was informed that both RTM1 and TV3 were competing to host the event, now scheduled for 9PM on April 19.

He also said Lim was open to expanding the scope of the debate, given that both speakers have raised 15 questions each on related matters, including the CM’s purchase of his Penang home allegedly for below market price.

“We are not confining the debate to only the Taman Manggis land deal. It is a free-for-all, no-holds barred. It’s a live programme, let’s make it as exciting as possible,” he told reporters at a press conference today.

Loke added that his party was amenable to either station hosting the event, and that the only condition was that it be televised live.

He accused Buletin Utama, TV3’s prime time news programme, of orchestrating a “smear campaign” against Lim, which he said prompted DAP to question its impartiality if the station were to host the debate.

But the Seremban MP hoped that TV3 would be able to host the debate if RTM1 is unable to accommodate a live audience, saying that the former station’s Seri Pentas would be suitable to allow questions from attendees.

“We are afraid if it’s pre-recorded; we have no confidence it wouldn’t have been edited,” he explained.

Abdul Rahman, who is also Barisan Nasional strategic communications director, last week challenged Lim to debate on the controversial Taman Manggis land deal and Lim’s house purchase on Jalan Pinhorn, which the latter accepted.

Both men have since been engaging each other via the press and social media.

Abdul Rahman has maintained he has in possession documents to support his claims, including two documents showing Kuala Lumpur International Dental Centre (KLIDC) re-selling the land to a third party for about RM70.6 million.

But Lim has insisted that the land belongs to the KLIDC as the shares are still listed under the agency’s name.