Simpang Renggam MP Liang Teck Meng has suggested that Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua may seek revenge against Arul Kanda Kandasamy in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) if he is embarrassed in a debate with the 1MDB president.

"What happens if Pua losses badly and holds a grudge against Arul which may subconsciously impair his fairness and judgement during the PAC inquiry?" he said in a statement today.

Liang said this in his criticism of Pua who wanted to interview Arul Kanda in a live talk show after rubbishing the 1MDB president's earlier interview with Bernama TV as a public relations exercise.

Arul Kanda accepted Pua's challenge in a statement this morning but asked that the DAP lawmaker first resign as a PAC member.

In response, Pua told Arul to be ‘a man’ and accept his challenge unconditionally.

Liang, who is also a PAC member, said Pua should know better about respecting the parliamentary institution.

"He must remember that he is a member of the PAC which is currently investigating 1MDB and will be in the process to determine if there is any wrongdoing.

"Holding a live 'no-holds-barred' TV debate with one of the subjects of the parliamentary inquiry is an insult to Parliament," said Liang, who is also Gerakan secretary-general.

Liang likened this to a case of a judge arguing with the accused on live television before the court case.

"No respectable Parliament in the world would allow this," he said.

Meanwhile, MIC leader S Vell Paari too joined in the fray, stating that Arul Kanda's call for Pua to first resign as a precondition was ‘reasonable’.

"I call on Pua to stop playing games and not let this 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to grill the 1MDB president pass.

"If Pua is interested in the truth, quit PAC, be a man and debate Arul," he said in a statement today.