KUALA LUMPUR (May 30): Veteran politician Lim Kit Siang said he will not debate with former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and that he is not completely retiring from Malaysian politics.

Earlier this month, Najib had challenged Lim to a debate in English in a Facebook post.

The DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri said he is retired from competitive politics and will not stand for any election inside or outside the party, including parliamentary and state assembly election, but it was not possible to retire completely from politics as politics affects every aspect and every second of one’s life.

“There are two million Malaysians above the age of 65 and three million Malaysians in the 55-64 age group, and I strongly believe that these five million senior citizens have a role to play to support the young generation of Malaysians to realise the Malaysian Dream to make Malaysia a world-class great nation,” he said in a statement on Sunday (May 29).

Lim said he did not wish to give any platform to the disgraced former prime minister which will only enhance his credibility and belief that there is nothing wrong in turning Malaysia into a kleptocracy.

He also thanked the MP for Bukit Mertajam, Steven Sim, for volunteering to stand in for him to debate Najib.