With the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on state-owned fund 1MDB tabled in Parliament, DAP lawmaker Tony Pua has once again challenged 1MDB chief Arul Kanda Kandasamy to a live televised debate.

Pua told a Pakatan Harapan organised forum in Shah Alam last night that he first issued the challenge to Arul Kanda last year, when the PAC probe was still going on.

"Last year I had proposed for us to go on a live talk show. But he (Arul Kanda) said it was not possible unless I resign from my role as a PAC member.

"Even Dewan Rakyat speaker (Pandikar Amin Mulia) went against the idea, citing my involvement with the probe on 1MDB as a reason," the Petaling Jaya Utara MP said.

"Now that the report is concluded, there is no more conflict of interest.

“So tonight, I challenge him (Arul) to a live debate and answer all questions on 1MDB," Pua told the audience of over 1,000 people last night.

The DAP national publicity chief asked the crowd if they would like to see the debate, to which there was a resounding, "Yes."

PAC probe incomplete

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, who was also a speaker at the forum, called for the PAC investigation into 1MDB to be reopened.

Lim said this could be done once the report has been debated in the Dewan Rakyat, when the House reconvenes on May 16.

The House can then decide that it is incomplete for lack of proper documents and testimonies, and hence, ask for further investigation to be conducted, he said.

"Malaysians are not stupid. The PAC report is scandalous and the investigation should continue until we get the real story.

"There needs to be a criminal proceeding as all the fingers are pointing towards someone else being responsible, not just (former 1MDB CEO) Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi.

"Would Shahrol dare to make such decisions if there was no one powerful behind him?

“And Article 117 of 1MDB's memorandum and articles of association (M&A) is very clear on this."

The Gelang Patah MP explained that Article 117 of the fund’s M&A requires the prime minister's written endorsement for every major decision carried out by 1MDB.

The PAC report tabled in Parliament last week had, among its recommendations, suggested that Shahrol be held responsible for the company's shortcomings and be investigated by the relevant authorities.

1MDB has been mired in scandal involving its hefty debts and alleged financial improprieties, which have been reported through several series of articles by the media around the world, among others The Wall Street Journal .

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