1MDB’s Arul Kanda says game for live debate with Tony Pua but MP must quit PAC first

1MDB president Arul Kanda Kandasamy (right) says he is willing to debate Tony Pua on live TV but only if the Petaling Jaya Utara lawmaker resigns from the Public Accounts Committee. – The Malaysian Insider graphic, October 29, 2015. Under-fire 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) president Arul Kanda Kandasamy today accepted the challenge by critic Tony Pua to a live TV interview on the state-owned investor, but said the DAP lawmaker must first resign as member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Arul Kanda said this was to preserve the integrity of the bipartisan committee investigating the debt-ridden fund and to avoid conflict of interest. 

“YB Tony Pua has challenged me this morning to a ‘live talk show’ with him. I hereby accept his challenge and look forward to answering his questions,” the 1MDB chief said in a statement.

“It is a known fact that Tony Pua is a member of the PAC, which is in the midst of conducting an investigation into 1MDB. 

“In order to maintain the integrity of the PAC’s investigation, and to avoid any conflict of interest, Tony Pua must first resign from the PAC.”

He said he hoped the DAP MP, with whom he has had public exchanges with, would do the right thing so that they could discuss the issue on live television.

“Despite his efforts to do so, Tony Pua cannot be judge, jury and executioner. As such, I trust he will have the courage to do the right thing and resign from the PAC in order for us to have, in his words, a ‘no-holds barred’ discussion on live television.”

Pua had earlier challenged Arul Kanda to a live interview to clear the air about the state investor as the 1MDB president had failed to respond to allegations against it.

Malaysians, the Petaling Jaya Utara MP said, were no closer to the truth on its scandals even as the 1MDB head continued with his public relations campaign with recycled answers. – October 29, 2015.