KUALA LUMPUR (April 15): 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) president and chief executive Arul Kanda Kandasamy has accepted DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua’s challenge to a debate.

In a tongue-in-cheek statement, Arul Kanda said Pua cannot seem to decide on whether he loves or hates him. 

Arul Kanda said within the span of a day, Pua had first called for his resignation as 1MDB chief but then later implied that Arul Kanda needs to stay on in 1MDB and debate with Pua.

“What is clear is that, despite him almost exclusively questioning me for 2 full days at the PAC (Public Accounts Committee), the DAP representative, YB Tony, still wants to spend quality time with me,” said Arul Kanda. 

“Far be it from me, to deny YB Tony this pleasure.I hereby accept the debate challenge. Bring it on!” he added.

Arul Kanda said this must be the first time a PAC member has called for a debate with a personality implicated in the committee’s investigations, after a PAC report has been issued on the matter. 

“To avoid being embarrassed a second time, I hope YB Tony has first checked with the Speaker of Parliament before issuing this debate challenge,” he added.
Last night, Pua had once again challenged Arul Kanda to a live televised debate as a debate now would not conflict with PAC investigations which culminated in the release of the committee’s report in Parliament two weeks ago. 

Pua told a Pakatan Harapan organised forum in Shah Alam last night that he first issued the challenge to Arul Kanda last year, when the PAC probe was still underway.

The two personalities have been engaged in a verbally jousting since the PAC proceedings began on 1MDB.

The troubled state investment fund has been embroiled in multi-investigations across several countries over the management of its funds and the debt – RM50 billion as at January this year – it has accumulated within a short span of five years.