KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 – Arul Kanda Kandasamy said in a statement here on Thursday that he can only take part in any debate on 1Malaysia Development Berhad after the Public Accounts Committee hearings. The 1MDB President and Group Executive Director referred to the ruling of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, “the ultimate authority on all matters relating to Parliament”.
Arul Kanda said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has made his ruling on my responsibility as a PAC witness and that any debate should only take place at the PAC hearings. Pandikar Amin ruled in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that an open debate on the 1MDB issue cannot be held until after the PAC submits its official investigation report to the House.
Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, who had challenged Arul Kanda to a “live talk show”, bowed out after the Speaker ruled that he must quit the PAC if he wanted to take part in any open debate on 1MDB. Arul Kanda also alluded to the statement of DAP Chief Whip Anthony Loke Siew Fook that Pandan MP Mohd Rafizi Ramli would replace Pua for the debate with him.
“Pua issued the debate challenge and he accepted with no conditions. There was never any question of debate with Pakatan Harapan, which has now appeared out of nowhere, in a desperate and last-minute attempt, to save YB Tony Pua from embarrassment,” Arul Kanda said.
Meanwhile, Arul Kanda also added that these are political games which he, as a professional, will not be drawn into. As for the 10 questions which Pua allegedly wanted to raise in the debate, Arul Kanda said 1MDB will respond to them at the appropriate time and in the appropriate forum, including a lawful authority such as the PAC.
