Salleh: Arul-Pua face-off should be a debate, not Q&A

Minister says a debate would allow Malaysians to understand the real situation as both parties air their views on 1MDB.

KUALA LUMPUR: The battle between 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) President Arul Kanda Kandasamy and Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua should be in the way of a debate and not take on a question-and-answer format, Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said.

He said, while Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) was prepared to broadcast the battle live, its format had to be agreed upon first.

“RTM will prepare the studio. We can also provide a moderator for the debate and RTM will discuss with them (Arul and Pua) to see when they want it to be held.

“It’s good to have the debate so Malaysians can know the real situation. However, it should be a debate so they can discuss their views on 1MDB,” he told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby here today.

When asked about the duration of the debate, Salleh said that according to previous formats, it could very well be a one-hour session at the studio without an audience present.

He explained that Arul had already been contacted about the debate and that Pua would be next. He also expressed his hope that the debate would be held by this year.

“But what is more important, if you want to hold a debate it must be held in a conducive environment.

“It should not be emotional and every party must argue with facts so that at the end of the day, the audience can make their own judgement.”

Pua had previously challenged Arul to a live television debate on 1MDB, which Arul accepted on condition that Pua first resign from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that was conducting an on-going probe into the investment company.

Pua, however, refused to do so, prompting Arul to later accept the proposition without any conditions attached.