A group of Universiti Malaya (UM) students have not given up on the 1MDB debate between 1MDB president Arul Kanda Kandasamy and DAP lawmaker Tony Pua - they are offering an alternative venue for the debate.

Student alliance group Progressive UM secretary-general Vince Tan said today the debate should go on because of the public importance of the 1MDB issue.

"Just in case it is being jeopardised and the RTM debate can't go on, we, the students, are willing to provide a platform for them to debate," Tan ( photo ) told a media conference at UM's Dewan Tunku Canselor.

Among those present were Persatuan Mahasiswa Islam Universiti Malaya president Muhammad Wafiuddin Rosli and UM Association of New Youth president Ho Chi Yang.

Wafiuddin said the student groups are prepared to host the public talk.

“We hope that the UM Student Affairs Department will not stop us (from hosting the event),” he added.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak has said that RTM would host the debate slated for Friday and broadcast it live.

However, Pandikar ruled that Pua must either quit the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) or withdraw from PAC's 1MDB investigation if he wants to debate with Arul.

Pandikar has even threatened to resign as speaker if his decision was ignored.

Pandikar’s mockery

With Pua refusing to comply with Pandikar's request, the 1MDB debate may not materialise unless a replacement for Pua is found.

Tan slammed Pandikar’s order as merely to divert public attention away from the 1MDB scandal.

“This is a mockery with the speaker trying to prevent the people from focusing on the real issues confronting our country such as 1MDB, abuse of power and financial mismanagement.

“We should proceed with the debate on 1MDB rather than make rulings about who should resign or that debate cannot proceed,” the student leader said.