KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 — 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) president Arul Kanda Kandasamy said today DAP MP Tony Pua does not need to resign from the Public Accounts Committee in order to square off on live television with him.

Arul Kanda said he withdrew his earlier remarks calling for the Petaling Jaya Utara MP’s resignation from the PAC as a prerequisite for a live debate on 1MDB.

“Today, I stand before you to say openly to Tony Pua I withdraw my condition.

“I will meet YB Tony Pua for live discussion, or talk show, or debate, without any condition,” the 1MDB president told reporters today.

But earlier today at the same event Arul Kanda repeated his challenge for Pua to resign from the PAC before debating him to avoid any possible conflict of interest.

“He (Pua) feels that difficult questions are not asked to 1MDB. I have accepted the challenge openly but on one condition. He is a PAC member, PAC is investigating 1MDB which means he is a judge. He is going to judge the answers and all we are going to give PAC.

“If you have integrity and want to avoid conflict of interest and if you’re a man, step down from PAC and debate me,” Arul Kanda said.  

Arul Kanda also thanked Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak and national television broadcaster, Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) for being willing to telecast the debate.

On Wednesday, Pua challenged Arul Kanda to a live televised debate following the latter’s appearance on an interview conducted by national news agency Bernama.

Arul Kanda accepted the challenge  but on the condition that Pua first resign from the PAC, a suggestion backed by Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and BN MP Liang Teck Meng who is also a member of the committee.

The PAC will resume hearings on Monday following the suspension of its inquiries in July, when then chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed and four BN lawmakers were recruited by the federal administration.

Prior to its suspension, the PAC had been due to question Arul Kanda and his predecessor, Datuk Shahrul Ibrahim Halmi, on August 4 and 5.