PETALING JAYA: Bachok MP Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman from PAS likened himself to a mouse deer (Sang Kancil) facing off against an elephant as he participated in a debate with Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.
“I have never participated in a debate. But as fate would have it, my first debate will be with a minister,” he said, as a disclaimer, before delivering his opening statement in the live-streamed debate on television.
Mohd Syahir pointed out that the debate was not on a level playing field as Rafizi held the advantage of being a minister.
“Secondly, Rafizi is a minister and I am an Opposition MP. Rafizi has many advantages as the Statistics Department of Malaysia is under him, along with the government machinery and the media,” he explained.
“So it is not really a level playing field. It is like a mouse deer facing off with an elephant,” he expressed.
He went on to note that although a mouse deer is small, it is intelligent.
On August 1, Mohd Syahir, who is also the PAS assistant secretary-general, accepted Rafizi’s invitation to the debate.
Syahir had initially declined Rafizi’s invitation for a debate on July 31, following in the footsteps of caretaker Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, whom he described as an older brother.
“It is better to focus our time and energy on work and serve the people to solve all the issues and duties that await us.
“In this matter, I agree with my older brother, Sanusi,” he stated in a letter addressed to Rafizi.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
