It's like 'Sang Kancil' taking on an elephant, says Syahir of debate with Rafizi

PETALING JAYA: PAS’ Bachok MP Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman compared himself to a mouse deer (Sang Kancil) taking on an elephant as he participated in a debate with his opponent, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.

“I have never participated in a debate. But as fate has it, my first debate will be with a minister,” he said, “as a disclaimer” before commencing his opening statement in the debate streamed live on television.

Mohd Syahir said there was no level playing field in the debate as Rafizi was 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 and so is the government machinery and the media.

"So it is not really a level playing field. It is like a mouse deer facing off with an elephant,” he said.

He then added that although a mouse deer is small, it is intelligent.

On Aug 1, Mohd Syahir, who is the PAS assistant secretary-general, accepted Rafizi’s invitation to a debate.

Syahir had initially declined Rafizi’s invitation for a debate on July 31, following 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 had said in a letter addressed to Rafizi.