KUCHING, Nov 29 ― State Reform Party (STAR) Lina Soo has accepted an open invitation from Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to debate on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 that led to the country’s founding.
“Much obliged, it is with great pleasure that I will honour your offer by accepting the challenge to debate on the agreement,” she told reporters here today.
“We applaud your gallantry and valour well nigh rare to find in any Malaysia politician today,” Soo said referring to Pandikar Amin's recent debate challenge posted on his Facebook page.
Pandikar Amin, using the name of PaMin Padila Mulia on his personal Facebook page, said he did not recognise Lina Soo but knew Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan as a credible adversary.
However, he added that he would never run away from any battle for the good of the nation.
Soo, who is has been championing state rights issues, said the debate would be a platform and an opportunity to educate the general public not only on the Malaysia Agreement, but also other documents related to the formation of Malaysia.
She said she has researched much on Malaysia’s formation and written two books, Sarawak The Real Deal and Sarawak Chronicle, based on documents kept at the British National Archives at Kew in London.
Soo proposed the debate be held in Kuala Lumpur and asked Pandikar Amin to pick either January 13 or 20 or 27 next year as the debate date.
“The debate should be in English as the Malaysia Agreement is an international treaty in English drawn up by the British, signed and sealed in London,” she said.
Soo said she will send a letter to Pandikar Amin to officially accept the invitation to debate on the Malaysia Agreement.
