Arul Kanda Kandasamy should not 'hide' behind Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia's ruling on the much-publicised debate on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), said Anthony Loke.

The DAP Chief Whip said this was because Pandikar Amin himself had said he had no power to stop Arul Kanda from debating.

"The issue surrounding the debate's no-go was due to Tony Pua being a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member.

"But Rafizi Ramli is not. So, it shouldn't be a problem," said Loke, who is also Seremban MP.

Loke said Arul Kanda seemed to have 'chickened out' at the last minute after Pakatan Harapan decided to replace Pua with PKR's Rafizi.

Previously Pua, who is Petaling Jaya Utara MP, had challenged Arul Kanda to debate him live on matters surrounding the debt-ridden 1MDB.

The challenge was made following Arul Kanda’s interview in the talkshow “Bernama TV with Arul Kanda” that was hosted by the TV station’s Suriati Sanusi and deputy editor-in-chief (Economic Service) Mikhail Raj Abdullah on Oct 28.

However, matters arose when Pandikar Amin stated that Pua could only debate Arul Kanda on 1MDB if the former relinquished his post in the PAC.

This was because PAC is currently investigating the state investment fund and there would be conflict of interest.

On top of that, Pandikar Amin had also said that Arul Kanda cannot appear as a witness before the PAC if he wanted to debate Pua before the PAC's probe into 1MDB concludes.

Subsequently, Pakatan Harapan, of which DAP is part of, was adamant on the debate taking place, saying they would appoint another member to replace Pua.

Earlier today, the coalition announced that they had appointed Rafizi, who is Pandan MP and PKR vice-president, to replace Pua in the debate.

In a statement today, Arul Kanda had said in respect to Pandikar Amin’s views, he noted that if such a debate were to take place, it would have to be after the PAC's probe on 1MDB concludes, seeing that he was a witness in the proceeding.