Isham accepts Zahid's challenge for debate

KUALA LUMPUR - Umno Supreme Council member Isham Jalil is prepared to accept party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's challenge to debate openly.

However, Isham said he placed a condition that the debate must take place in a neutral ring.

“Not in a supreme council meeting where most individuals were the president’s men chosen or appointed by the president.

“If I debate in that ring or ‘channels’, it would be one-sided and not a smart move.

“I’m not as stupid as he expected,” he said through Facebook on Sunday.

He said he was prepared to step down from his post if the president won the debate.

“However, if I win, Datuk Seri can hold a party referendum, hold a presidential election, or think about what should be done if Datuk Seri is brave and a man,” he challenged.

He commented on Zahid’s statement in an exclusive newspaper interview on Sunday that challenged any party in Umno who disagreed with him, including the party’s former information chief, to debate with him if they were ‘man enough’.

Isham was known as a loyal supporter of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and voiced his different views regarding the future of Umno, especially in terms of relations with the DAP and Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“I wanted to focus on other matters and not on my dispute with the president, but this morning the president still spoke and attacked me openly in the press.

“Therefore, I had to respond to his ‘views and open attacks’ on me. If not, wouldn't I be the only one who has to ‘follow the proper channels’ to reprimand despite the fact that the president and his men would publicly criticise and condemn his fellow members openly in the media despite never condemning them personally, but only to discuss the policies and party direction?

“Islam didn’t order to do so. It tells us to defend ourselves when we are slandered and denounced with lies.

"The president’s people lied a lot to discredit me. I'm sure they would be directed to denounce me again. It doesn’t matter; I will answer if there is time,” he said.