Nazri: I don't need to prepare, they can ask anything

Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz has dismissed the need for him to prepare for his much anticipated debate with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“I have nothing to prepare, I will just go there on March 25 (the date of the debate).

“I don't have to prepare. They can ask anything, I will answer. The ones (questions) that I can answer, I will answer,” he told Malaysiakini when quizzed on his preparation.

Responding to another question, the Padang Rengas MP also said he was not afraid to face Mahathir.

“No, no, no... He is a retired senior politician, I am a senior politician, that is the difference... I am still a senior politician, I am still a minister,” Nazri added.

The debate is scheduled to take place at MRSM Kuala Kangsar in Perak, and the topics to be raised include 1MDB, the RM2.6 billion in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's accounts, the East Coast Rail Line Project (ECRL) and the BMF scandal, which occurred during Mahathir's tenure as prime minister.

Initially, Nazri had challenged Mahathir to contest against him in Pandang Rengas, the parliamentary constituency which he has held since 1995.

Subsequently, Mahathir issued a counter dare, asking Nazri to contest against him in the Langkawi parliamentary seat instead.

This ignited speculation that the former PM, who is now chairperson of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), is making a comeback in the next general election.

However, Mahathir later denied that he plans to contest in the polls, and switched his challenge to a debate, which Nazri accepted.

Nazri has been a staunch critic of Mahathir, even during Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration.- Mkini