KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 ― 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) president Arul Kanda Kandasamy has agreed to a public debate on controversies surrounding the state investment firm, DAP lawmaker Tony Pua announced today.

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP said Arul agreed to proceed with the debate on April 15, adding that they are now working to take their showdown on air.

“I had issued the second challenge for 1MDB president Arul Kanda to face-off in a ‘live’ talk show or a debate on April 14, 2016… the 1MDB president has kindly accepted the challenge immediately,” Pua told reporters outside the Dewan Rakyat here.

The DAP national publicity chief said his party colleagues will now contact Arul Kanda's side to detail out the arrangements.

“I hereby would like to announce that Members of Parliament for Kulai and Serdang, Teo Nie Ching and Dr Ong Kian Ming will be in touch with Robert Ho to finalise the details of the arrangement,” Pua said

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia had previously blocked efforts to get the first debate underway, citing as reason the Public Accounts Committee's (PAC) ongoing investigation on the fund.

But PAC has since completed its probe and tabled its final report in the Dewan Rakyat in March.

Pua said today this meant there should not be any obstacle for the debate to proceed, adding that he hoped Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak can again get RTM or TV3 to broadcast the event.

“The minister was very quick and eager to offer the platform for the debate last October.

“Hence I am sure in light of public interest in the matter, he will make the same offer to host the event above,” he said.