Former Umno Wanita chief Rafidah Aziz today urged that rather than focusing on the Arul Kanda-Tony Pua debate, the public should focus on the need for investigations into 1MDB.

In a Facebook post, Rafidah, formerly a long-time international trade and industry minister, said the public should not be sidetracked from the main issue.

She said the public had witnessed rallies and displays of verbal wars that reflected cracks in national unity and there were also the retirement of key people connected to the investigation processes.

There were also arrests which seemed to point to intolerance of any dissent and differences in opinions, she added.

"Now we are witnessing the spectacle of a hoo-ha over a proposed public debate!"

"Actually, there is already widespread public debate out there (over 1MDB) amongst the young, the business people, party members and the public at large," she noted.

She quipped that if there were flies on every wall of restaurants and coffeeshops that could listen in on these conversations, they would have much to tell.

'Rice bowl' worries

Rafidah said that just because there was no debate in the print media, it did not mean the people did not have feelings, concerns and opinions.

"We do not need the Arul-Pua debate on the issues. They are already, and will continuously be the subject matter of the debate amongst the people.

"What is required is not debates and mudslinging by any quarter but action to get on with investigating and addressing the issues […] this is what is urgently required.

“Focus on the main storyline, not the sub-plots which are merely distracting and taking away precious time and serious attention," the former minister said.

Rafidah, known as the 'Iron lady' during her term in office, said ordinary citizens are afraid for the security of their 'rice bowls' and such concerns should also be addressed.