LGE, The Coward

Excuses, excuses, excuses!!!

Whether Lim Guan Eng directly or indirectly challenged Sdra Koh Tsu Koon to a debate that's academic.

But, the excuses LGE had been giving show that he is a COWARD.

Originally, Sdra Koh had requested some conditions (which are all very fair - see his press statement below) to accept the debate challenge. Unfortunately, LGE choose not to consider his request.

Now, Sdra Koh is willing to forgo the conditions, yet LGE is giving excuses after excuses.

JUST GET ON WITH THE DEBATES. NO LAME EXCUSES.

Some of excuses and cowardly acts are:-

• LGE said that he have only 5 months experience as a CM, while Dr Koh have 18 years. LGE conveniently forget to mentioned his years as an opposition leader, which would make him even more skilled in debating.
• LGE accused Agenda Daily of representing Gerakan, the portal that handled Anwar-Shabery Cheek debate. What a lousy excuse.
• LGE said he is puzzled about the announcement of the open debate by news portal Agenda Daily. Agenda Daily took the initiative from LGE's challenge to Sdra Koh to set up the debate, he should be thankful instead of been cowardly.
• While Sdra Koh prefer a debate on current issues with specific focus on matters related to Penang, LGE is adamant just to discuss the "land issue controversy".
• Clearly, when Shabery Cheek and Anwar took up their debate, there were NO EXCUSES.
  

Puan Sri Chui, Sdra Koh Tsu Koon's wife had challenged Lim Guan Eng to a debate a few months ago. He did not take up the challenge.

KOH FOR LAND ISSUE DEBATE IF CHALLENGED

Press Release by Former Chief Minister of Penang,
Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon
(Monday, 4 August 2008)

(1) If Lim Guan Eng formally throws such a challenge, I am prepared to accept an open debate with him on the so-called "land scam" issue involving RM40.0 million as alleged repeatedly by him.

(2) However, two (2) conditions need to be fulfilled and agreed upon. The first is to ensure a truly fair debate. The other one is meant to protect the interest of the state in a pending court hearing on the case.

(3) First, all files and documents pertaining to this case in the Chief Minister's office and the state government's various departments must be declassified and made available to me for my reference to prepare for the debate. This condition is to ensure a fair debate on a level playing field.

(4) Although I can recall roughly the basic aspects of this case, I cannot remember specific facts and dates related to the case. On the other hand, Guan Eng as the present Chief Minister possesses and has full access to such files in the government offices. Such information is needed by both sides to prepare for arguments in the debate. It will not be fair at all if he has access to information and I do not.

(5) Second, the debate can only take place after the conclusion of the upcoming court hearing. In this regard, Lim Guan Eng must inform me and the public what is the date that has been fixed for the court hearing on the previous state government's appeal to reduce the amount claimed by the plaintiff in this case.

(6) This condition is not an excuse to avoid or delay the debate. It is important because some of the points raised in the debate may jeopardise the state government's position in the court hearing. It may even be sub judice.

(7) As a corollary to this condition, Lim Guan Eng has to immediately retract and stop mentioning again his often repeated open allegations, since March 2008 regarding the potential loss of RM40.0 million by the state government in this case.

(8) By repeatedly quoting the figure of RM40.0 million, he has definitely given the impression that the present state government seems prepared to pay for this big quantum as claimed by the plaintiff. This will jeopardise the state government's position in the court hearing to reduce substantially the claimed quantum, based on the arguments put in by the previous state government.

(9) Therefore, this second condition is meant to protect the state government in the upcoming court hearing. Irrespective of who eventually wins the debate, what is even more important is that we should all try by all means to reduce the amount claimed from the state government.

Background Information

The previous occasion Koh Tsu Koon and Lim Guan Eng had an open debate was more than 20 years ago when both we were the Youth Chiefs of their respective parties, before Koh became the Chief Minister of Penang in 1990. The venue was the Penang Chinese Town Hall.

若受挑战

许子根准备就土地案件公开辩论

前任槟州首席部长丹斯里许子根博士文告

（2008年8月4日）

1． 如果林冠英正式抛出这样一个挑战，我准备接受，针对他一再公开指称"涉及马币4千万"所谓的"土地舞弊案"与他进行公开辩论。

2． 然而，公开辩论需要在先符合和同意两项条件后进行。第一项是要确保一个公平的辩论。另一项是必需在有关候审的法院案件上保护州政府的利益。

3． 第一，必须同意撤销官方文件秘密级别及让我参考目前存放在槟州首长办公室及州政府各部门中有关这起案件的所有档案和文件以便我能为辩论做好准备。这个条件是要确保辩论得以在一个公平的平台上进行。

4． 虽然我记得这案件的大致基本情况，我却已不记得具体资料，数据和事件发展过程的日期，因为我手上没有有关文件。另一方面，基于林冠英是目前的首席部长，他拥有有关文件，也能从政府部门取得很多相关的资料。双方需要这些资料以便为辩论中的论点作准备。如果他有资料而我却无法知悉，这将是极不公平的。

5． 第二，辩论只能在法院排期聆讯后才进行。林冠英必须告诉我和广大人民，法庭是否已定下哪个日期以聆讯前朝州政府寻求降低赔偿额的上诉。

6． 这条件不是一个为了避免或延迟辩论的借口。这是很重要的，因为在这次辩论中所公开提及的一些论点可能危及州政府在法院聆讯的立场。它甚至有可能会被视为藐视法庭。

7． 作为这条件的另一个付点是，林冠英也应即刻收回和停止他自2008年3月以来一再重复的公开指控，说所谓的"土地舞弊案"将可能导致州政府损失马币4千万。

8． 通过公开不断声称涉及的巨额数字是马币4千万，他肯定给人的印象是，目前的州政府愿意支付原告所索取的上述巨额。这将危害到州政府致力通过法院诉讼以大幅降低有关索偿巨额的论点。

9． 因此，这第二个条件就是要在即将举行的法庭聆讯保护州政府的立场和利益。不论是谁在辩论中取胜，重要的是，我们大家应尽量采取一切办法，以减少最终州政府所需付的索赔额。

背景资料

上次许子根和林冠英进行过公开辩论是在20多年前，在许子根成为槟州首席部长前，当时，他们担任各自所属政党的青年团总团长。地点是在槟州华人大会堂举行。