1MDB debate can be held this Friday, says Salleh

He said RTM had proposed that the debate between 1MDB President and Group Executive Director Arul Kanda Kandasamy and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Tony Pua which would be broadcast "live" be held over an hour from 9pm.

"RTM as the host broadcaster will contact them to get their consent on this proposal," he told a press conference after opening the 19th International Linguistics and Malay Culture Seminar at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) here today.

"This debate should be expedited because the issue (1MDB) is the talk of the people and I am confident it can be handled professionally, factually in a conducive atmosphere," he said, adding that the moderator will be from RTM and who it will be will be decided later.

Salleh said the absence of an audience would allow the debate to proceed in a conducive atmosphere and avoid political sentiments so that the people could evaluate for the themselves the points raised by both parties.

"Although there will not be an audience, I give my assurance that the debate will be telecast live without any editing," he said.

Salleh said his ministry would set the ground rules for the debate so that the two parties do not bring in information not publicly available in view of 1MDB, a sovereign wealth fund, still being probed by the PAC.

On Saturday, Arul Kanda had accepted a challenge on the debate from Pua, who is also the MP for Petaling Jaya Utara.

READ: No conditions, bring on the debate, Arul tells Tony Pua

Meantime, Salleh said RTM would be airing a new programme titled 'Demokrasi: Mengurus Perbezaan'(Democracy:Managing Differences), which would provide a platform for open debates on issues of interest.

The programme which would be aired once a month was aimed at educating the people on the workings of democracy besides acting as a medium for discussing issues in a mature and factual way, he said.

READ: 10 questions for Arul Kanda - Tony Pua