PARLIAMENT Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia today shot down Lim Guan Eng's appeal to reverse his ruling that Tony Pua must resign as Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member to debate with 1MDB boss Arul Kanda Kandasamy.

Pandikar defended his ruling, saying he allowed the live debate between Pua and Arul, but only upon the release of the report produced by PAC's investigation into 1MDB.

"I did not stop the debate from taking place. I said the debate (should be held) after the PAC report is tabled in the House.

"I was informed that the decision will be made in this (Parliament) session," he said in reply to Lim (DAP-Bagan).

Gag order restricted to PAC probe

Pandikar also explained the gag order imposed upon Pua was only restricted to the contents of the PAC investigation.

Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara) asked the speaker to clarify whether Arul Kanda can be called as witness in the PAC proceedings if he appeared in the live debate slated for Friday.

"As to whether Arul Kanda can issue statement or debate, I have no authority to issue a gag order against people not related to PAC," Pandikar said.

Yesterday Pandikar laid down the law and said Pua must either resign from the PAC or abstain from the 1MDB investigation if he wants to debate with Arul Kanda.

He also said Arul Kanda could not be used as a witness in the PAC investigation if the debate goes on.

At a press conference later today, Lim reiterated that DAP will not risk Pua's post in the committee and will find a replacement to debate with the 1MDB boss.

"This will be proposed by our side, but we will discuss it and it has to be approved by Pakatan," the DAP secretary-general said.

He said a decision would likely be reached today and announced at the Pakatan Harapan secretariat press conference scheduled for 4pm.

Pakatan Harapan has many lawmakers who are more than capable to take on Arul Kanda, Lim added.

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