PETALING JAYA: PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli (pic) said he would be proud to be sued for standing up for the people’s right to enjoy fuel subsidy.

Referring to a letter of demand from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s law firm on Thursday, Rafizi said he believed it had something to do with his continued criticism of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

The letter of demand requested his explanation on several comments he made in defence of the fuel subsidy during a ceramah in Bandar Tun Razak on Nov 22.

The comments subsequently appeared in a three-minute video clip uploaded to his Facebook page on Monday.

“I was expecting such a reaction from the Prime Minister as my (DAP) colleague Tony Pua received a similar letter last week. I believe it has something to do with our unrelenting criticism of 1MDB.

“I feel proud to be sued by a Prime Minister for saying that the people have a right to at least a 30 sen fuel subsidy, at a time when the nation’s leaders are needlessly spending public funds on projects which burden the people like 1MDB,” Rafizi said in a statement Thursday.

He said he was prepared to debate any of the Umno leaders or ministers on the fuel subsidy issue, but no one had the courage to do so.

“When no one from the Umno leadership is brave enough to have an open debate on this, then it is wise for the Prime Minister himself to respond to my arguments,” he said.

Rafizi said he would respond to Najib’s letter of demand and was prepared to testify in court, adding that he expected the Prime Minister to use the courts to explain 1MDB’s debts, pension funds and other issues pertaining to his decision to withdraw the fuel subsidy.-thestar