Johor polls: Muhyiddin declines to debate Felda issue with Najib

PAGOH: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has declined to debate Datuk Seri Najib Razak on the issue of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), saying that he will let the rakyat be the judge on the matter.

The Perikatan Nasional chairman said that the rakyat was fully aware of the facts on what had happened to Felda under Najib’s administration.

“The state electorate will be the witness and make a decision based on with what we have discussed; the rakyat is the best judge,” he told reporters at the launch of theTV White Space programme here at Stadium MPM Lenga on Wednesday (March 9).

The programme is expected to enable rural connectivity and bridge the digital divide.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak had previously said that he was willing to participate in a debate on Felda – but only with Muhyiddin.

Najib said Datuk Seri Mohd Azmin Ali, who issued the challenge, could assist Muhyiddin with facts while the two former prime ministers duke it out verbally.

Muhyiddin said that there were several issues faced by Felda when Najib was the prime minister, including on the listing of Felda Global Ventures (FGV) and the stake purchase in PT Eagle High Plantations.

“Najib cannot brush aside all these. If we debate, he will not be able to answer and will be left speechless. No need to ask Azmin to debate, even school children can win in a debate of such manner,” added Muhyiddin

Azmin, the International Trade and Industries Minister, had challenged Najib to the debate during a Perikatan ceramah at Sungai Balang on Saturday (March 5) night.

At the ceramah, he also claimed that Felda was destroyed during Najib’s tenure as prime minister.