KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia clarified today he has no power to prevent either 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) president Arul Kanda Kandasamy or anyone else who is not a member of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) from debate.

Addressing the lawmaking body in Parliament here, Pandikar said his ruling Monday was restricted only to Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, who is a member of the PAC.

"On your third question as to whether he can make statements or debate outside, I do not have any powers to issue a gag order to people who are not in the PAC," the Speaker said of Arul Kanda, in reply to a question from Pua.

The matter was raised again earlier today by Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, with Pua then asking Pandikar to explain his reason to block the highly-anticipated debate on “live” television.

The Speaker had previously ruled that Pua must resign from the PAC or abstain from involvement in the parliamentary panel’s ongoing inquiry into 1MDB if he wished to debate Arul Kanda.

He also said that Arul Kanda, who has been called as a witness, should not testify in the PAC proceeding if the 1MDB chief took part in the debate.

Pua told Pandikar today that he felt disappointed with the Speaker's stand.

"I am disappointed as I feel as if my rights are violated.

"You know, I never abused my privileges in the PAC to make statements outside, so I ask you now for explanations so that I don't make any mistakes later… I ask you for guidance..if Arul Kanda has the debate with others, would he still be stopped from coming to the PAC?" Pua asked.

To this, Pandikar replied saying that it is not his jurisdiction to issue orders against the 1MDB president.

Pandikar also asserted that he was not blocking the debate but only asked that it be held after the PAC tables its 1MDB inquiry to Parliament.

“Secondly it is Parliament’s integrity and this committee is a creation of the Parliament so I am forced to intervene if it is to make things clear,” he said.

Pandikar yesterday said that Pua should either resign from the PAC or abstain from the committee’s probe on 1MDB if he wants to debate the issue with the firm’s president, Arul Kanda.

The Speaker also ruled that Arul Kanda himself can no longer be a witness in the probe if the debate goes on.

Pandikar’s ruling came shortly after Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said said national broadcaster RTM had suggested a Friday slot for a live telecast of the debate.