Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar will let police in Alor Setar, Kedah decide if they want to approve a debate between Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir and former special assistant-turned-rival Haris Che Mat. 

However, Khalid said Mukhriz can appeal to him if he is not happy with the local police's decision. 

"This will be decided by the local police (in Alor Setar), but if he (Mukhriz) is not happy, he can appeal to me," Khalid said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today. 

It was reported yesterday that Mukhriz had submitted a notice to the police for the debate on April 27 at the Dewan Perhimpunan Melayu Kedah, in Alor Setar.

The former Kedah menteri besar said the venue's owners had agreed to let the debate be held there.

Haris had previously accused Mukhriz of possessing assets amounting to more than a billion ringgit and challenged the latter to a debate on his wealth.

Mukhriz subsequently agreed and promised to donate all the money, if it can be proven that he was a billionaire as claimed.

In his notice, Mukhriz said Haris had also agreed to answer questions about Riza Aziz, the stepson of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. 

Besides Mukhriz, police had also pulled the plug on a debate between his father Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz.