Bring it on, Arul Kanda tells Pua on 1MDB debate challenge

Arul Kanda (left) and Tony Pua

PETALING JAYA: 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) president and group executive director Arul Kanda Kandasamy has accepted Tony Pua’s challenge to a debate following the conclusion of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) investigation into the government investment arm.

In a statement on Friday, Arul Kanda questioned the Petaling Jaya Utara MP's remarks calling him a liar and asking him to resign from 1MDB just hours before issuing the debate challenge on Thursday.

“It is clear that YB Tony is confused and contradicts himself. He does not know if he loves me or hates me.

“He says I should resign, then says I need to stay on and debate with him,” he said.

Arul Kanda also said that he hopes Pua, who is a member of the PAC, had consulted the Parliament Speaker before issuing the challenge.

“To avoid being embarrassed a second time, I hope YB Tony has first checked with the Speaker of Parliament before issuing this debate challenge,” he said.

Arul Kanda said that despite questioning him for two full days at the PAC hearing, Pua still wanted “to spend quality time” with him.

“Far be it from me, to deny YB Tony this pleasure.

“I hereby accept the debate challenge. Bring it on!” he said.

On April 7, the 106-page PAC report on 1MDB was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.

This is the second time Pua has challenged Arul Kanda to a live debate over 1MDB.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia had said that to safeguard Parliament’s integrity, Pua should first resign from the PAC if he wanted to debate with Arul Kanda.