KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has condemned former Sepang member of parliament (MP) Mohamed Hanipa Maidin as a "coward" for declining a challenge to a debate.
Najib criticised Hanipa, accusing him of merely seeking excuses to avoid confrontation and engaging in mere rhetoric without the courage to face him.
"The debate does not involve me directly, but rather my representatives. Despite Hanipa's various excuses and verbal attacks, the bottom line is that he is displaying cowardice.
"Why shy away from dialogue if you genuinely believe that Najib is in the wrong?
"Why not engage in an open forum to enlighten the public about the circumstances? What is it you wish to conceal?" wrote Najib's administrator on his Facebook page today.
Previously, Najib had challenged Ramkarpal and other critics to a televised debate on the RM42 million SRC International case.
Invitations were extended to his "recent detractors", including senior DAP leader Tony Pua and former Sepang MP Mohamed Hanipa Maidin of Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), in case Ramkarpal declined to participate.
However, Ramkarpal rejected the challenge, deeming it futile and a waste of time.
Hanipa, too, ultimately resorted to adopting a similar approach, characterising the invitation as a purported manoeuvre by the former Pekan MP to deter public discourse on his issue, which had received partial clemency from the Pardons Board, while also seeking to assert his continued relevance.
He also found it puzzling that Najib, convicted of crimes involving the 1 Malaysia Development Bhd subsidiary, could easily make statements as if he were not a convict.
This behaviour is undeniably shameful, as it not only brings disgrace, but also burdens the nation and its citizens.