Explaining further, the tourism and culture minister said there was no point in debating the matter when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is already probing Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
“Why do you want to debate now? Just wait for the result of MACC’s investigation and see what happens then. That is more important than wasting time debating,” he said at a press conference held at his ministry.
The outcome of the investigations, irrespective of whether Lim is found guilty or otherwise, Nazri said, would render the debate pointless.
He said this was why both Lim and Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan should call off the debate and allow MACC to continue investigating.
Rahman had last week challenged Lim to a face-off, with both TV3 and RTM offering to televise it.
Earlier today, both Rahman and Lim agreed that the debate should proceed, despite calls by a special committee overseeing the MACC for the televised debate between the duo to be called off so as not to jeopardise MACC investigations.
Nazri then said the anti-graft agency’s findings would be more relevant than the outcome of the debate.
Rahman and Lim have been locking horns since Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahaya linked Lim’s double-storey bungalow bought last year to the 2012 sale of Taman Manggis, which was sold below the market value to the Kuala Lumpur International Dental Centre (KLIDC).