"DAP is disappointed that Koh has shown his trademark indecisiveness and evasiveness by setting pre-conditions before this nationally televised debate can happen.
"To ensure that Koh does not wriggle out of the nationally televised debate with evasive tactics, I had unreservedly agreed to debate Koh without any conditions, even if it is held in the Gerakan headquarters, on the Kampung Buah Pala and any land issues.
"Koh had said that Gerakan leaders are willing to debate with me while attending the Penang Gerakan AGM on Aug 30.
"On the next day, I immediately replied that I will accept Koh’s challenge, only if Koh himself debated," Lim said.
However, the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department did not take up the challenge, but instead sent Gerakan Youth as his proxies.
Lim said in trying to help out Koh to avoid the debate, Penang Gerakan Chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan even claimed a few days ago that Koh only suggested and did not challenge Lim for the debate.
"Under pressure to prove his courage, Koh has pretended to accept the nationally-televised debate.
"The pre-conditions Koh placed for the debate gives the impression that Koh has no sincerity at all to debate. All this clearly shows that Koh’s indecisiveness and evasiveness has not changed at all, even after the political tsunami.
"He is still the same Koh Tsu Koon. He lost more than 10,000 votes during the 2008 general election, precisely because of his indecisive and evasive nature," Lim said in a statement.
He said if Koh dare not debate without any conditions, how could he stand up to Umno’s corruption and political dominance that denies equal political rights, equal economic opportunities and socio-economic justice.
"Koh should explain his double standards and inconsistency of fighting corruption when he can support BN leaders associated with corruption.
"How can he talk of political morality and ethics but yet support the Umno and BN candidate for Bagan Pinang who was suspended for money politics in Umno and described as unsuitable by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad?" he questioned.