(Nov 3): Putrajaya must not use the highly anticipated live debate between 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) president Arul Kanda Kandasamy and DAP lawmaker Tony Pua to end the alleged scandals involving the state-owned firm, PAS said today.

The party’s deputy president  Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had earlier asked for six months to resolve 1MDB’s controversies, and the outcome of the debate – especially if it favoured the government – should not be used as an excuse to declare its problems resolved.

“There are 41 days left to his six-month deadline. Hopefully, Najib won’t declare that the 1MDB problem has been resolved by using the excuse of having ‘won’ the debate.

“Hopefully, he won’t use that and say he has fulfilled his six-month promise because in reality, a debate doesn’t solve 1MDB’s problems.

“The debate will be followed by many but it is hoped that winning the debate will not remove all the unanswered allegations against 1MDB and the impact it has on the country,” he said in a statement today.

Pua, who is Petaling Jaya Utara MP and a member of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee probing into the debt-ridden 1MDB, recently challenged Arul Kanda to a live debate.

Arrangements are now being worked out for the event, with government broadcaster RTM saying it was willing to host the live debate.

Tuan Ibrahim said several Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders, such as Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak seemed “impatient” about the debate.

Earlier today, Salleh suggested that the debate be held on Friday.

But Tuan Ibrahim said 1MDB’s troubles and its impact on the country could not be resolved by a debate.

Because of the firm’s controversies, national institutions have been affected and damage caused to the economy and ringgit.

“The integrity of Bank Negara is questioned. The disrupted probe into 1MDB has caused the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission), police and Attorney-General’s Chambers to continue to be seen as controlled and not free (to do their duties).
“This causes the collapse of the check and balance system on those given the mandate to govern the country.”

Tuan Ibrahim said while those who reported and questioned 1MDB were “hunted” by the authorities, those allegedly involved with or had links to the firm debt-ridden have yet to be interrogated.

“Among them are Najib, Jho Low (businessman Low Taek Jho), (SRC International managing director) Nik Faisal Arif Kamil and (SRC director) Datuk Suboh Md Yasin.

“On October 22, Najib said Nik Faisal and Suboh are making plans to be interviewed by MACC. But until today, there is nothing.

“The same is with Jho Low. It seems like there is no authority that has the courage to call him up to give statements, including the new PAC chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin," the PAS leader said.

Tuan Ibrahim also noted that Hasan had said the PAC would call up Arul Kanda, former 1MDB chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Ibrahim Halmi, and several other directors linked to 1MDB. – The Malaysian Insider