Dr Mahathir Mohamad has given Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz until noon tomorrow to arrange the debate between them.

This is after the police declined to provide permission for the much anticipated debate to take place at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) in Kuala Kangsar, this Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference in Putrajaya this afternoon, Mahathir said he had suggested that the debate be held in Padang Rengas, but it was Nazri who chose MRSM.

"I want the debate to go on unlike the 'Nothing to Hide' forum and I am prepared to debate on any issues raised by them, including the BMF scandal.

"I give Nazri until tomorrow afternoon to arrange it. I am not going there merely to meet him but to debate. If he wants to meet me, he can arrange an appointment," he added.

Earlier, Nazri had criticised the police's decision to bar the debate, and vowed to be present at the venue on March 25 as scheduled.

It was reported that the police today rejected the application for the debate to be held at MRSM, citing failures to comply with the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) by organising it at a school, as well as failing to give authorities a 10-day notice in advance.

Mahathir said the debate challenge was initially an attempt to get Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to speak.

Initially, he added that the Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed gave his approval but it seemed that the deputy minister cannot bypass the police even though the debate will be held in a building.

“I am ready to debate at any venue even in Shah Alam. Arrange this debate,” Mahathir said, adding that as a former premier he has no power.

“If there is a new date, I will come, even if it is not Nazri,” he added.

Someone in power does not want debate

On the BMF matter, Mahathir described it as slander against him as it was not owned by the government but a private entity (Bank Bumiputera), and action had been taken against the person responsible.

“There was an investigation, including a white paper and it was debated in Parliament. There are no obstacles.

“It was not placed under the Official Secrets Act and we did not hide it as there was a white paper,” he said in an obvious reference to Najib and the auditor-general's report on 1MDB.

The former premier believes there could be hidden hands in preventing the debate.

“Maybe there is someone who is afraid and this person is in power. The police officer who made the directive is just a junior officer.

“It also happened in the 'Nothing to hide' forum (where Najib was supposed to attend). If you did nothing wrong, what is there to fear? We are a democratic country,” he said.

Mahathir also opined that the police reports are made on purpose for police to take action.

The former premier also questioned why Nazri had discouraged Umno members to attend the debate.

“The fact is that they do not want Umno people to hear about 1MDB and the wrongdoings. He (Nazri) is afraid for his boss as it would expose the wrongdoings of his boss...

“I am ready for a debate, not to go there merely to meet Nazri,” he reiterated.