Azmin says 'no' to Rafizi's challenge to debate

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali has turned down a deputy presidential debate invite from his challenger Rafizi Ramli.

"I thank Rafizi for the call but I don't see the necessity (for us to debate) because this is a party election that is held within the party.

"This is not a direct presidential election where you want to get the involvement of the rakyat," Azmin told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Astro Awani reported yesterday that Rafizi was prepared to debate with Azmin.

“If there is no debate, then it will be very humiliating because Umno has done that,” Rafizi said, referring to the debate two months ago involving three Umno presidential candidates.

Azmin also brushed off the claim by his colleague Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid that party president Anwar Ibrahim would not be the next prime minister if the party members vote in Azmin as the deputy president.

"This is party election and it has nothing to do with the government post. This is the normal process that we have to go through every three years," Azmin said.

[More to follow] - Mkini