I'll give you 10 extra minutes to debate, Anwar tells Najib

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has again issued a debate challenge to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, this time promising to go easy on the premier.

“He can speak for 20 minutes, I will speak for 10 minutes. He can reply for 20 minutes, and then I will reply in 10 minutes,” he said in a Twitter posting.

Anwar (left in photo) who is also de facto PKR leader, has challenged Najib (right in photo) numerous times, the most recent being a challenge to debate on national policies issued during the 3rd Pakatan Rakyat Conference in Alor Setar, Kedah on Jan 14.

Thus far, Najib has not responded to Anwar’s recent series of challenges.

However, in January last year, Najib had said he was not afraid to debate Anwar but the latter should first resolve his sodomy case and other personal issues.

Anwar was acquitted of the sodomy charge on Jan 9 this year but the prosecution has appealed the case.

Meanwhile, in a statement today, PKR information chief Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty said that Najib’s refusal to debate showed that he had something to hide.

“Leaders who refuse to meet eye to eye (to debate) give the perception of insincerity and dishonesty. It shows that there are secrets to hide. What is being hidden from the people?” he said.

Muhammad Nur added that Najib should trust in the wisdom of the people by debating and allowing the people to make their own empirical judgment.