Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari has challenged Kampar MP Chong Zhemin to a public debate over allegations involving Orang Asli land encroachment, sexual crimes against children and HIV infections in Kelantan.
Fadhli, who is from PAS, said he was not given the opportunity to respond after Chong raised the issues while debating the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s (Suhakam) 2024 annual report in the Dewan Rakyat.
He invited Chong to debate him on any public platform, naming Astro Awani, Sinar Harian or any other organiser willing to host the session.
“If he does not accept the challenge, he should be considered cowardly and lacking the courage,” he said while intervening during the parliamentary debate.
Dispute over parliamentary debate
Earlier, Chong highlighted several issues involving Kelantan, including unresolved Orang Asli land encroachment cases and what he described as a rising proportion of HIV infections in the state.
Fadhli argued that Chong had used the Dewan Rakyat to make allegations against Kelantan without giving him a fair opportunity to respond during the proceedings.
Calls for open discussion
Fadhli said issues related to human rights and public morality were national concerns that should not be used to tarnish or insult any individual state.
He said that if Chong genuinely wished to discuss the matters, they should do so through an open public debate rather than raising the allegations in Parliament without allowing an immediate reply.
