PKR candidate for the Nangka seat Abdul Raafidin Majadi has challenged BN incumbent Dr Annuar Rapaee to a debate following the latter’s suggestion to Muslims to vote for the ruling coalition in order to maintain their hold on power.

Abdul Raafidin will be handing a letter of invitation for the debate to Annuar at the latter’s campaign centre tomorrow.

In a press statement today, the PKR candidate said Annuar had clearly urged voters to support candidates based on racial and religious sentiments.

Racial politics, he added, should not be brought into Sarawak.

Abdul Raafidin said the people should elect leaders based on integrity and capability as opposed to racial sentiments.

"I, as a Melanau candidate, stress that all Nangka voters and Sarawakians should be given justice regardless of political background.

"Hence, I challenge Annuar to debate on May 1 under the topic of ‘Who is more qualified to be Sarawak chief minister?’" he added.

Annuar, a cardiologist, has disputed the Malaysiakini article which reported him as stating that Muslims, despite being a minority in Sarawak, have been given the opportunity to lead the state, and this should not be squandered.

He claimed that his remarks were taken out of context and the Malaysiakini reporter who penned the article is currently being investigated after a slew of police reports were lodged against her.

Malaysiakini , however, stands by its report and published the audio recording of Annuar’s speech at the event.

Annuar is facing Abdul Rafidin and Tiong Ing Tung from STAR in a three-cornered fight for Nangka in the May 7 state election.

LISTEN to the audio recording of Annuar's speech: