KUCHING, Dec 1 ― State Reform Party (STAR) president Lina Soo said today she was disappointed that Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has rejected a debate on the Malaysia Agreement (MA63).

Soo pointed out that the Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s snub came after his original offer for a debate over the issue.

“My acceptance of his offer to debate is still on, because I do not withdraw, and it can only fulfilled by performance,” she told Malay Mail today.

“I was the first to accept his offer and it is cowardice of him to deflect it by transferring the offer to the chief minister of Sarawak whose status is at par with the prime minister,” Soo said.

Yesterday, Pandikar Amin had told reporters in Parliament House that he would only engage in a debate with Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg.

The Speaker, however, did not offer any reason for rejecting Soo's acceptance of his open invitation for a debate.

On November 29, Soo, a long time state's rights activist, sent a letter to Pandikar Amin of her acceptance to debate with him.

Separately, State Barisan Nasional Youth chief Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said Pandikar Amin has every right to express his personal views on MA63, but there is no necessity for him to teach Sarawakians or evaluate their knowledge on MA63, what more challenging Abang Johari to a debate.

“Morever, he is not the individual being commissioned or given the mandate by the prime minister to solve the matter,” he said in a statement.

Fadillah said the state BN Youth and people of Sarawak have the same views with the chief minister and that they are fully supporting him to reclaim state's rights enshrined in MA63.

“We believe that in the spirit of the Barisan Nasional, the matter will be resolved through discussion and consultation between the chief minister and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak,” Fadillah, who is also the federal Works Minister and PBB Youth chief said.