Pua says ready for debate with 1MDB boss, wants details finalised soon

(Malay Mail Online) – DAP’s Tony Pua thanked 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) president Arul Kanda Kandasamy for agreeing to have a live television debate without any conditions, adding that he would like the details of the event to be finalised as soon as possible.

“Accept la. Will issue statement in a bit,” the Petaling Jaya Utara MP told Malay Mail Online today when asked to comment on Arul Kanda’s announcement this morning.

In a statement later, Pua thanked the 1MDB president for the “gentlemanly acceptance of the invite without attaching any conditions.”

“I would also like to thank the Communications and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Salleh Said Keruak for offering RTM to host the live talk show even before the invite was accepted,” he said.

“I am certain that over the next week, our respective teams will meet and thrash out the date, time and format of the talk show,” Pua added.

The DAP leader stressed that the biggest winners from the live discussion will be Malaysians who wanted to uncover the truth with regards to the issues surrounding 1MDB.

Earlier today, Arul Kanda said Pua does not need to resign from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in order to square off on live television with him.

Arul Kanda said he withdrew his earlier remarks calling for the Petaling Jaya Utara MP’s resignation from the PAC as a prerequisite for a live debate on 1MDB.

“Today, I stand before you to say openly to Tony Pua I withdraw my condition.

“I will meet YB Tony Pua for live discussion, or talk show, or debate, without any condition,” the 1MDB president told reporters today

On Wednesday, Pua challenged Arul Kanda to a live televised debate following the latter’s appearance on an interview conducted by national news agency Bernama.

Arul Kanda accepted the challenge  but on the condition that Pua first resign from the PAC, a suggestion backed by Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and BN MP Liang Teck Meng who is also a member of the committee.

The PAC will resume hearings on Monday following the suspension of its inquiries in July, when then chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed and four BN lawmakers were recruited by the federal administration.

Prior to its suspension, the PAC had been due to question Arul Kanda and his predecessor, Datuk Shahrul Ibrahim Halmi, on August 4 and 5.