GE14 | 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy was in Balik Pulau, Penang, today to clarify the opposition's "spin" about the state investment fund.

Expectations were so high that it was going to be a "hot" affair - and he went on to joke that there was a fire engine was waiting outside the lecture building at the Balik Pulau Polytechnic.

But Arul Kanda calmly fielded and deflected all questions hurled at him and firmly restated that 1MDB had merely made "bad business decisions" which were not criminal in nature

He also said that RM42 billion had not been stolen, but rather, ended up as the company's debt, which had been reduced by RM17 billion this year.

About 400 people attended his session today, with most of them being civil servants. BN candidates Dr Helmi Yahya (Balik Pulau) and Muhammad Farid Saad (Pulau Betong) were present, along with Umno leader Lokman Adam.

Asked to comment on former PKR MP Rafizi Ramli's remark yesterday that he is a "campaigning tool for BN", Arul Kanda joked, "Actually I am not only a tool but a powerful tool."

Rafizi had said in a Facebook video yesterday that Arul Kanda, in embarking on a nationwide roadshow to explain and clarify the 1MDB issue, was being used by BN.

"I am here as the spokesperson for 1MDB. This is a fully government-owned company and we have a responsibility to explain to the people about what happened to the firm," Arul Kanda said.

"In fact, these sessions, interviews and features in TV have been done since 2015 and 2016. I have been doing this for a long time, not just this year. 

"In 2017, the issue had somewhat subsided, as we had paid our debts, our projects have kicked off, and the opposition no longer has any capital," he added, to cheers.

"At the time, I was a bit relaxed, I could eat more till I have a tummy bulge, all that happened in 2017. But in early February and March this year, they started again to recycle, reuse and retell their stories, (the) rascals.

"All the Rs! When they started again, we knew why. We were entering the election season," Arul Kanda said.

"Therefore, as a company, when we see what the opposition is doing, we felt responsible. As a fully government-owned entity, we felt the need to explain to all of you.

"No need to waste time to debate with Rafizi Ramli or Tony Pua or anyone," he stressed.

Arul Kanda said he had used his time better by administering his company, paying its debts and coming face-to-face with the public to answer these "hot questions".

"But when I come up here, did Rafizi or Tony Pua come? I invited them with an open heart.

"Although I was in their strongholds, they did not attend the dialogues," he added.

'No contact with Jho Low since 2011'

1MDB, the brainchild of caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, is the subject of investigations in several countries, including Singapore, Switzerland and the US.

During the event, when Malaysiakini asked Arul Kanda if he could send a message to Penang businessperson Jho Low to return home and face Malaysians over his alleged involvement with 1MDB funds, since the CEO had admitted to knowing him, the audience cheered.

"I don't know him and he is not my friend but (I) have met him before. No contact with him now," Arul Kanda said.

"It is a good idea to report about this, maybe he can read about it and respond to the suggestion to return home," Arul Kanda added.

He reiterated that he has previously met Jho Low (photo), who has had business dealings with the Arabs.

Arul Kanda used to work in a bank in the Middle East in 2011, but denied ever having had any business dealings with Jho Low.

"I had no contact with him after 2011. Or else you would have seen my six-pack on the Equanimity yacht or seen me partying with Paris Hilton," he said.

Arul Kanda was also asked why 1MDB was not planning to take legal action against several international media which had allegedly tarnished the country's name by reporting negatively about the 1MDB issue.

He said that generally, the newspapers had merely reported the matter based on information from the US Department of Justice (DOJ), which started civil forfeiture proceedings against 1MDB in 2016.

"So long as there is no conclusion to the case, we cannot say whether the matter is true or false. We do not know, the information provided by DOJ may or may not be correct.

"What I am saying is, do not speculate, as long as the court proceedings have not started. We cannot sue them until there is a conclusion to the case," he said.

He cited the case of Penang caretaker chief minister Lim Guan Eng's corruption trial, saying the court case has just started.

"No one from BN has accused Lim of wrongdoing. Because the case just started, but in the case of DOJ, everyone has said we are guilty. See the double standards and the hypocrisy? you may judge for yourself," Arul Kanda added.