KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Gelugor member of Parliament Ramkarpal Singh has declined former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's challenge to a debate on the latter's reduced jail sentence, describing it as futile.
He said issuing challenges for debates serves no purpose in altering the outcome of Najib's legal standing.
"It has been brought to my attention that someone using former Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's Facebook account has challenged me to a debate.
"They even said that they would reach out to me for a suitable date and venue for the debate.
"As far as I know, no one from Najib's camp has contacted me. In any event, I assume the said Facebook post was instructed by Najib.
"Najib has challenged me to debate his unnamed representative on an issue which has already been decided, namely whether he deserves a pardon, particularly in light of a minority judgment by Justice Abdul Rahman Sebli in his application to review his conviction in the Federal Court," he said in a statement.
Ramkarpal said discussing the Pardons Board's decision further was pointless as the majority judgment of the application holds way.
"Any debate, whether with me or anyone else, would not change the fact that Najib remains a convict and that his conviction is safe.
"As such, it would be wise of Najib to stop issuing nonsensical challenges for a debate with others, the outcome of which, makes no difference to his plight.
"It would, therefore, be a waste of time to take up this senseless challenge."
He added that Najib's challenge for the debate was a mere publicity stunt to remain relevant.
"It is obvious that Najib wishes to use me to remain relevant by challenging me to this debate. I will not allow myself to be used by this cheap publicity stunt of his.
"It is a pity to see Najib in such a desperate state.Perhaps it would be best for him to make the most of his time in prison now by reflecting on his misdeeds and repenting," he said.
Previously, it was reported that Najib challenged Ramkarpal and other of his 'haters' to a televised open debate on the RM42 million SRC International case.
In a statement posted by the administrator of his official Facebook page yesterday, he also issued the same challenge to his 'recent haters', including senior DAP leader Tony Pua and former Sepang MP Mohamed Hanipa Maidin of Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), in the event Ramkarpal is not keen to take part in the debate.
In the same posting, Najib defended the decision made by the Pardons Board on Friday when he stated the public either does not understand the facts or has not been following his case related to SRC International.
The Federal Territories Pardons Board last Friday reduced Najib's fine to RM50 million from RM210 million as well as halved his 12-year jail term to six.