KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 ― Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said a debate on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) can be held if it can explain the issue to the public.

“I welcome the debate but fear that it may be destructive and not beneficial to the public. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak wants the 1MDB issue to be resolved quickly,” he told reporters after participating in the Malaysian United Run organised by Institut Onn Jaafar at Padang Merbuk here, today.

1MDB President and Group Executive Director, Arul Kanda Kandasamy has said he is ready for a debate with Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua on the sovereign wealth fund.

Arul was responding to a challenge thrown by Pua in his blog.    

Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) is reported to have said that it is willing to broadcast the debate live.

Meanwhile, in Johor Baru, Member of Parliament of Johor Baharu Tan Sri Shahrir reminded Pua, who is also member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), not to be emotional to the extent of exposing confidential information before it was tabled in the Parliament, and hence insulting the Parliament, during the debate with Arul.

“If he expose or ask a question on his capacity as PAC member, he would be considered as insulting the Parliament,” he told reporters.

Yesterday, former PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed was reported as saying that the proposed debate on 1MDB should be scrapped to prevent the credibility and integrity of the committee from being questioned.