Isham now challenges Rafizi to debate in Sungai Bakap

Former Umno information chief Isham Jalil said he will be in Sungai Bakap in the coming week and was willing to hold the debate there.

PETALING JAYA: Ex-Umno information chief Isham Jalil has challenged PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli to a debate held in Sungai Bakap, in view of the by-election campaign there.

Isham, who was sacked from Umno in December, said he would be in Sungai Bakap the coming week and was willing to debate with Rafizi there.

“To anyone who’s in Sungai Bakap, please find Rafizi and tell him not to run away,” he said in a brief Facebook post.

Earlier this month, Isham had claimed in a post on Facebook that Rafizi had declined to debate him out of fear.

However, last week, Rafizi said Isham, a former Umno Supreme Council member, had rejected his invitation to a debate on economic issues. Rafizi said he had evidence to prove it.

Rafizi, who is the economy minister, had previously said he wanted to invite Isham, Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi and social media influencer “Lim Sian See” to his podcast as he was keen to hear their ideas on revitalising the economy.

He later said he would not debate Puad as he is an assemblyman in the unity government, while he and “Lim” were working on a debate some time in early August.