According to Lim, Tan had said in a report in The Star that Lim “did not dare deny” claims that he had asked SJK(C) Kuek Ho Yao to change its name as a condition for a RM4 million allocation when he was finance minister.

“This is false and untrue,” said Lim in a statement today, adding that he was giving Tan and The Star 24 hours to retract the report and apologise.

Separately, Lim hit out at MCA president Wee Ka Siong for challenging him to a debate on Chinese education and SJK(C) Kuek Ho Yao instead of debating Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.

Lim said Wee had initially challenged DAP’s Teo, the former deputy education minister, to a debate on Feb 25.

“Teo promptly accepted the challenge to debate on March 6 but Wee then asked to debate with me instead.

“This is dishonest and irresponsible of Wee. Even if Wee wants to debate with me, he should debate with Teo first,” he said.

However, he said, police intervened to stop Wee’s debate with Teo from happening.