The DAP lawmaker pointed out that he had last year proposed that both he and Arul Kanda appear on a live talk show to debate 1MDB, but the latter had said it was not possible unless Pua resigned as a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member.
The Opposition lawmaker reminded Arul that even the Dewan Rakyat Speaker was against the idea of the debate as the PAC had been ordered to investigate 1MDB last year and being a member, Pua would have to resign first.
“Now that the report is concluded, there is no more conflict of interest. So tonight (yesterday) I challenge him (Arul) to a live debate and answer all questions on 1MDB.”
The DAP national publicity chief said this when speaking at a forum about the PAC report on 1MDB held at the IDCC here, and asked the thousand-strong crowd if they too would like to see the debate, to which there was a resounding “Yes.”
Meanwhile, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, who spoke at the same forum, suggested the re-opening of the PAC’s probe on 1MDB.
He said once the report was debated in Parliament, the House could then decide if the investigation was incomplete due to the lack of proper documents and testimonies, and hence, demand for further investigations to be conducted.
“Malaysians are not stupid. The PAC report is scandalous and the probe should continue until we get the real story.
“There needs to be a criminal proceeding as all the fingers are pointing towards someone else being responsible, not just (former 1MDB chief) Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi.
“Would Shahrol dare to make such decisions if there was no one powerful behind him? And Article 117 of 1MDB’s Memorandum and Articles of Association is very clear on this,” he said of the explicit written endorsement of the prime minister for every single transaction carried out by 1MDB.
The PAC report tabled in Parliament last week has recommended, among others, that Shahrol be held responsible for the company’s shortcomings and be investigated by relevant authorities.