1MDB chairperson Lodin Wok Kamaruddin said it is up to the company president, Arul Kanda Kandasamy, to decide whether to debate wit PKR lawmaker Rafizi Ramli.

"I will let him handle that," Lodin said when met at the Chartered Banker Conferment Ceremony, attended by Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

Asked whether the debate would benefit the state-owned firm and help the company to explain the issues better to the public, Lodin declined to comment.

The opposition has sanctioned Rafizi, the MP for Pandan, to replace Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Tony Pua for the live debate with Arul Kanda.

Lodin and Bank Negara deputy governor Muhammad Ibrahim were among the 45 recipients conferred with the award of chartered banker by the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers.

Meanwhile, Lodin was also tight-lipped when asked about the US$700 million remitted to PetroSaudi International, as stated in the minutes of the 1MDB Board of Directors and reported by whistleblower Sarawak Report .

'Arul Kanda best person to talk to'

"Please, I suggest very much that you go and talk to Arul Kanda. I am not the executive (director).

"Arul Kanda is the best person to talk to," he said.

Sarawak Report had exposed two damning 1MDB’s board meeting minutes dated Jan 12 and Oct 17.

The first minutes, dated Jan 12, revealed the transfer of US$700 million to PetroSaudi International, while the Oct 17 minutes states that the board of directors were furious with the top executives of 1MDB for signing the joint venture agreement between 1MDB and PetroSaudi "in reckless haste".

Asked if he received any information about being called as witness at the PAC hearing into 1MDB, Lodin said: "I am not aware. What I know probably you also know, by reading the media (reports)."

The PAC hearing into 1MDB, which commenced on May 19, was forced to postponed on Aug 3, after then PAC chairperson Nur Jazlan Muhamad was promoted made deputy home minister.

Newly-minted PAC chief Hasan Arifin said PAC will call Arul Kanda on Dec 1, while 1MDB former CEO Shahrol will have to testify before PAC on Nov 25.