PKR has challenged Felda chairperson Isa Samad and the deputy minister in charge of Felda affairs, Ahmad Maslan, to a debate on the listing of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGVH).

Issuing the challenge at a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya yesterday, PKR chief of strategy Rafizi Ramli said this was in line with the latest trend in Malaysia.

NONE"In conjunction with this new culture of scholarly debates, which are becoming more popular and meet the taste of the rakyat, PKR is inviting Ahmad Maslan or Isa Samad for a debate on FGVH to be organised by PKR in the near future," Rafizi said.

If held in the presence of Felda staff and settlers, he said, the debate would be the "best way to solve the confusion" on the matter.

"It (the debate) can be with me or PKR Felda bureau chief Suhaimi Said. They can even call it a forum if they want.

"We will follow this call up with a formal letter of invitation," he said.

He added that the party is also extending an invitation to chairperson of PAS-linked pro-settlers NGO Anak Mazlan Aliman to join the debate against the Felda-linked officials.

The opposition party is prepared to present arguments on why the listing will not be in the interests of the Felda staff and settlers.

"For now, any negative feedback from the two will show that they are not ready to defend the BN's claims to the rakyat (on FGVH)," Rafizi said.

He added that the PKR Felda bureau has already begun information sessions in Felda settlements to explain how the settlers were not likely to get the RM20,000 promised to them.

Mazlan Aliman had previously invited Ahmad Maslan to debate on Felda-related issues, but the deputy minister had refused.