I’m the one to debate on Felda issues, Azmin tells Najib

Perikatan Nasional (PN) information chief Mohamed Azmin Ali took former prime minister Najib Razak to task today for dodging a debate with him on Felda issues as the campaign for the Johor state election heats up.

Azmin had offered to debate with Najib about the issues faced by the settlers since Felda Global Ventures (FGV) became a listed entity.

Najib however avoided Azmin’s offer, saying he would only debated with PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin.

“Why doesn’t Najib want to debate with me?” Azmin said. “I was the one who audited Felda’s affairs.

“I was responsible for completing the white paper and I tabled that paper in Parliament,” Azmin said when met by reporters in Muar.

Azmin was referring to the Felda white paper which he had prepared during his time as economic affairs minister under the Pakatan Harapan administration.

The paper, which was later presented to Parliament, revealed the shortcomings of Felda during Najib’s tenure as prime minister.

Azmin said Parliament had agreed with the proposal he submitted, especially on the repossession of land leased to FGV.

He also said that he had information on Felda to be presented for debate.

“I leave it to Najib to reconsider so that we can report to the people what really happened,” he said, adding that other issues that had been resolved included the mismanagement of Felda and the purchase of properties by Felda while Najib was prime minister.

The issues surrounding Felda are among the hot topics ahead of the state election in Johor, where many of the constituencies are home to Felda settlements.

Muhyiddin previously said that PN had succeeded in settling more than RM8 billion in debt carried by the settlers for years.

Najib meanwhile has visited several Felda areas so far as part of his campaign for Barisan Nasional.