MCA has stressed it is not endorsing the debt-ridden 1MDB when it invited its president and group executive director Arul Kanda Kandasamy to its forum today.

"We know that party grassroots have many questions about 1MDB issues to be raised.

"I hope they can get the answers through the briefing (from Arul)," said MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong when officiating the 'Malaysia's Economic Outlook' forum.

Arul was invited to brief MCA members on the Finance Ministry sovereign fund at an afternoon session of the event organised by the party's School of Political Studies.

Wee said inviting Arul Kanda was a pragmatic move as it allowed members to ask the 1MDB chief questions without limits.

'MCA not 1MDB mouthpiece'

Meanwhile MCA vice-president Chew Mei Fun (photo) during her speech also defended the invitation in response to critics among the media.

She said when news about Arul's invitation got out, some members of the media had made it an issue.

"They asked if this briefing is for the party members to speak up for 1MDB.

"I told them; MCA is not the government mouthpiece, MCA is not the 1MDB mouthpiece, MCA is a mouthpiece for the people.

"Taking the effort to understand a problem does not mean being their spokesperson," said Chew in her speech.

Speaking to reporters later, Arul said MCA members raised many questions.

"Very good questions. Very difficult questions, on various issues.

"I hope that we managed to give some clarification and answers of our different point of view in order for the facts, the correct facts, to be established (and) for opinions to be made."

He said 1MDB makes the effort to be "very much open" and to interact wit the public through interviews and media statements.

"From our perspective I think it is important to get the message across. We share the facts. And we let people decide based on the common set of fact."
Related report