RTM is no longer interested in holding a live debate between Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua and 1MDB boss Arul Kanda Kandasamy, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak.

"We are not interested as investigations conducted by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Auditor-General have been concluded. If anyone is interested to debate on it, they can do so in the Parliament.

"What's going on now is more of a business dispute between 1MDB and the International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC)," Salleh told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

He however added that other TV stations are free to host the debate if they wish.

Earlier today, Pua expressed his desire for a debate with Arul Kanda, either on RTM or TV3, to be arranged as soon as possible.

Arul had contacted him to make the necessary arrangements for the event, the Petaling Jaya Utara MP told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

"He has assigned 1MDB Head of Communications Robert Ho to lead the discussion on the format and structure of the talk show or debate," Pua said.

DAP's Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching and Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming will coordinate and finalise the details of the arrangement on DAP's side, Pua said.

Pua, who is also a PAC member, renewed his challenge to debate Arul Kanda on April 14 after the committee released its report on 1MDB.

The initial challenge was blocked by Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, because the PAC had yet to complete its probe on 1MDB.

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