KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) has withdrawn the offer to broadcast “live” the debate between Tony Pua and 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) president Arul Kanda Kandasamy after the Dewan Rakyat Speaker issued a gag order on the DAP lawmaker.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said today the offer was specifically for the individuals after they challenged each other.
“We are calling it off as far as live telecast is concerned because Pua has pulled out,” he told reporters when met outside the Parliament lobby here.
He was responding to a query if RTM would allow the debate to go on after Pakatan Harapan today claimed they would find a replacement for Pua as he is a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member.
“This is not a question of replacement, this debate is not between Pakatan or DAP against 1MDB but between Tony Pua and Arul.
“The question of a replacement doesn’t arise because these two individuals challenged each other,” Salleh explained.
The federal minister also maintained that RTM was not part of the debate organiser and only offered its services after Pua wanted his debate with Arul to be aired live.
“Actually our involvement is because they requested a live telecast. The debate is off as far as live telecast is concerned but if they want to themselves, they can go ahead. We are not the organisers,” Salleh said.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia earlier today disallowed the debate between Pua and Arul as it might taint the PAC’s probe on 1MDB.
