KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — PKR’s Rafizi Ramli accused 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) president Arul Kanda Kandasamy today of manipulating comments by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker to avoid debating him.
The Pandan MP said Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia’s objection was against an active member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) debating the 1MDB chief executive, rather than a blanket ban on such a debate.
“I’m not surprised that Arul is not brave, but I’m more surprised he is hiding behind the Speaker’s ruling.
“The interpretation made by Arul is not accurate and he is spinning the ruling made by the Speaker,” he told reporters in a press conference at the Parliament lobby.
The PKR secretary-general was today nominated to replace DAP’s Tony Pua in the debate, after Pandikar said the latter must resign from the PAC if he insists on debating Arul Kanda.
The 1MDB chief today later said he will abstain from any public debate on 1MDB pending the completion of the PAC’s probe into his firm, in accordance to Pandikar’s ruling.
Rafizi, however, told Arul Kanda to “grow a backbone” and debate him, adding that he would continue to “harass” the latter until he agrees.
“We will harass him until he agrees to the debate.
“He should know that he is not a normal CEO for a normal company. He is answerable to the public and 1MDB involves public funds. At the very least, be brave to answer to the public,” he said.
Rafizi further alleged that from Arul’s withdrawal, it was evident that the entire debate fiasco was a ruse to kick Pua out from the PAC.
“His refusal to debate, we expected this. It was a plot from the start to get rid of Tony Pua from PAC.
“What they didn’t count is that there would be a reserve speaker. Now Arul has to answer, he cannot say he is a professional and does not want to get into debate,” he said.
Pandikar this week disallowed the debate between Pua from debating Arul Kanda as it might taint the PAC’s ongoing probe on 1MDB, and threatened to quit if Putrajaya ignores his objections.
