BN strategic communication director Abdul Rahman Dahlan has welcomed Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's preparedness to participate in a public debate with him.

In a Twitter posting, he said: "I welcome the public debate on the Taman Manggis (land). My officer will contact your side to iron out the details".

"The debate will allow the people of Penang to know the facts and truth behind the Taman Manggis scandal," he added.

Yesterday, Lim said he was prepared to debate the urban well-being, housing and local government minister over the matter, and even wanted the event televised live.

"I am willing to debate him (Abdul Rahman) despite him having information that I don’t. But I am prepared, based on the latest information that I have.

"If you want (the debate to be aired on) TV3 it's better; TV3 is hammering me every night," he had said.

Both Abdul Rahman and Lim have been locking horns through the media almost on a daily basis since news of the chief minister purchasing a bungalow below market price surfaced.

The debate then shifted to the Taman Manggis land.

The contention here is over the alleged sale of KLIDC, which has bought the state land in Taman Manggis.

The minister alleged that the company has changed hands while the chief minister argued that this was not true.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is also probing the bungalow purchase while Lim has repeated denied any wrongdoing and blamed his political rivals for making false accusations.