Anak jantan gibe: Care to debate, Najib?

DAP's response to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's 'anak jantan' dig is to invite the premier to debate with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

GEORGE TOWN:  If Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is a “real man”, then he should have no qualms about engaging in a debate with Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Issuing this challenge, Penang DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said a Anwar-versus-Najib debate would show to Malaysians who is the real “anak jantan” and who can be a better prime minister for the country.

“If Najib is really anak jantan, he should debate with Anwar. That would prove who is more qualified to be the prime minister,” the Penang Chief Minister said during the launch of Penang DAP’s new headquarters here today.

Lim’s response was a tit-for-tat to Najib’s dig at Pakatan to be a “anak jantan” in facing Barisan Nasional in the general election rather than going to the streets to hold Bersih 3.0 rally.

Lim rapped Najib as the person who dare not face Pakatan in a clean, free and fair election.

“Bersih demands a clean election.  We will accept defeat if we lose in a clean election,” Lim, who is Bagan MP, told  some 200 party leaders including party MPs, assemblymen,  councillors and members who were present.

Also present were party veterans Dr Chen Man Hin, Lim Kit Siang, state chairman Chow Kon Yeow, PKR state chairman Mansor Othman and PAS state commissioner Salleh Man.

A notable absentee was party national chairman Karpal Singh, who had a prior engagement.

Earlier in his speech, Chen called on current party leaders and members not to abandon the DAP’s true ideals and struggle.

He reminded current leaders not to forget about sacrifices and contributions made by veterans like Karpal and Kit Siang who helped build the party to its present state.

“Responsibilities come with power.

“If we can uphold our principles and spirit, we can be successful,” he said.