INTERVIEW | In the explanations and counter-explanations on the 1MDB issue, 1MDB chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy and DAP's Tony Pua have also traded many barbs over the years.

There were also repeated challenges for a public debate between the two, but they have always been scuttled, one way or another.

When Pua first challenged Arul Kanda to a live debate in August 2015, even the then communications and multimedia minister Salleh Said Keruak offered to air the event on television.

Arul Kanda eventually agreed to debate unconditionally but the potential showdown was shut down by Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia who vowed to block any such event while the PAC investigation was still ongoing.

Pandikar had also demanded that Pua resigns if he went ahead with it.

Pua, after waiting eight long months after the PAC investigation was concluded, again issued his debate challenge against Arul Kanda who immediately accepted.

But a month after that, Arul withdrew from the debate challenge, citing the need to focus on 1MDB's dispute with the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) and police investigations following the PAC report.

Read more: 'Stolen' 1MDB Funds: The DOJ Lawsuit Revisited

Almost two years later, there has been no progress on the police investigation while on the IPIC front, 1MDB made its final settlement payment in December last year.

With the dust settling down, at least on the local front, is Arul Kanda finally up for a debate?

In an interview with Malaysiakini, the 1MDB CEO stressed that he did not fear Pua.

"You know my background. I got the legal background, I got a financial background, I used to be a debater in school and I think I fielded your questions quite well - difficult questions, right?

"So I don't fear having a debate with Tony Pua or anyone. I am more than capable of doing that. Let's be clear," he said.

However, Arul Kanda indicated that he was unlikely to take up another challenge from Pua.

"Let's look at the intention of the person asking for the debate. Tony Pua is a politician. Politicians need publicity, they need air time.

"And, of course, he will then use the contents and spin them to suit his purposes. I am not a politician, so he should not be debating me. I am a corporate person, explaining things from a company perspective.

"His intention is political, my intention is to clarify from a company's perspective. I am not in the business of giving free airtime and free publicity to Tony Pua. He can go find his publicity some other way," Arul Kanda said.

In the meantime, he said, he is on a roadshow to explain the 1MDB issues across the country, ahead of the 14th general election.

Asked if opposition members such as Pua would be allowed at such events, Arul said he welcomed them - if their intention was right.

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