Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak says other television stations are free to host the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) debate if both parties agree to it. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 5, 2015.
Other television stations can host the live debate between 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) president and a member of the opposition, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said.
The ministry will not place any restrictions on other channels but will not allow the debate to air on government broadcaster Radio Television Malaysia (RTM).
"There is no restriction if any other television stations wants to air it live as long as both parties agree," he told The Malaysian Insider.
Salleh said RTM would not air the debate as their original offer had been strictly for 1MDB president Arul Kanda Kandasamy and DAP lawmaker Tony Pua, who has been a staunch critic of the Finance Ministry-owned firm which has accumulated debts of RM42 billion.
Salleh retracted RTM's offer after Pua withdrew following Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia's order that the opposition MP could not join the debate unless he quit as a member of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is also investigating 1MDB.
Pandikar had said it would not be appropriate for Arul Kanda to be in the debate either as he was a witness in the PAC probe.
Opposition pact Pakatan Harapan today announced PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli as Pua's replacement.
The opposition continues to insist on a live debate with an audience.
Meanwhile Arul Kanda today said he would not debate Rafizi following Pandikar's statement on his position as a witness in the probe.
- TMI
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.