Nazri vs Kit Siang debate on: Who says Teoh wasn't murdered?

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz has agreed to debate DAP adviser over the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Teoh Beng Hock’s suspicious death, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter as both men are top-notch and very aggressive speakers.

Nazri, who is now in London, said he would accept Lim’s offer but suggested that the challenge be held after the fasting month of Ramadan.

In a blog posting yesterday, Lim had slammed Nazri for saying that the Teoh RCI had absolved the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission of murder charges and called on the minister to justify his stand.

He invited Nazri to do so at a forum entitled “Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission Inquiry Report — Where is the promised truth?” scheduled for 7.30pm on Tuesday at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

In a Twitter posting this afternoon, Nazri’s aide said: “Nazri Aziz accepted YB Lim Kit Siang’s challenge for a debate as posted on the latter’s fcbk @limkitsiang stil waitng 4 a response from YB.”

The aide added: “Nazri accepted the challenge n suggested the forum is 2 b held after Ramadhan” and explained later that the minister is now in London for the 57th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference which goes on until Thursday.

I will respond tonight

When contacted, Lim acknowledged the tweet and said he would respond at tonight’s forum.

“I did not use the word ‘debate’. I invited him to the forum tonight to explain his position. But, through his officer, he said he accepted the debate so I will respond tonight,” he said.

It is highly unlikely that Kit Siang will not accept although he may delegate the task to one of his younger aides due to his current sight impairment after a cataract operation, which puts him at a disadvantage in a confrontational meeting, albeit verbal in nature.

Lim’s challenge to Nazri came following the latter’s interview with Utusan Malaysia carried on Sunday where he declared that there was no need to form another RCI although Teoh’s family rejected the panel’s conclusion that Teoh had committed suicide.

In the interview, Nazri had also said that although the MACC needs to revamp itself, the RCI had absolved it of murder charges and this should not be questioned further.

But Lim refuted all charges, reiterating his stand that the MACC should be held responsible for the tragedy as the RCI had discovered that Teoh’s suicide had resulted from the “aggressive, relentless, oppressive and unscrupulous interrogation” by its officers.

- Malaysian Insider/Malaysia Chronicle