Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua can no longer speak publicly about 1MDB, said Public Accounts Committee chief Hasan Arifin.

Hasan said this was based on Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia's order that Pua ( photo ) must either quit the PAC or abstain from investigations if he wanted to debate 1MDB boss Arul Kanda.

"Based on the speaker's ruling, Pua can't speak about 1MDB (publicly)," he said in a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

Hasan said this includes statements about the debt-ridden sovereign wealth fund.

The Rompin MP said he would also seek further clarification on Pandikar's stipulation that Arul can't be a witness in the PAC probe if he debates Pua.

He also hoped the government will respect the speaker's ruling.

Earlier today, Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak proposed that the debate be held live on RTM this Friday.

Hours later though, Pandikar laid down his law on the debate and said he would quit as speaker if the government did not abide by his ruling.