Asked by reporters yesterday on the impending event, which follows a verbal spat between the tourism and culture minister and the former prime minister, Johari, whose ministry owns 1MDB, said there was nothing to say.
“I don’t want to comment on this debate, we have already debated the issue extensively in Parliament,” Johari was quoted as saying, adding that reports prepared by the auditor-general and the Public Accounts Committee on 1MDB had been deliberated extensively and that all questions had been answered in Parliament.
Pua, who is also Petaling Jaya Utara MP, said Johari’s response could not be further from the truth.
“The 1MDB debate has everything to do with the government, and in particular Prime Minister Najib Razak. Johari also failed to clarify that the Parliament Speaker had forbidden any answers on questions relating to the 1MDB US Department of Justice suit, preposterously claiming subjudice.
“Worse, if all questions on 1MDB have allegedly been answered, then why is the Cabinet hiding the Auditor-General’s Report under the Official Secrets Act (OSA)?” Pua said in a statement released today.
The DAP national publicity secretary also alleged that Public Accounts Committee chairman Hasan Arifin took pains to unilaterally make amendments to the PAC report and refused any attempts during the meetings to investigate links between the issue and the prime minister.
“Even the finance minister II himself had failed to answer questions raised in Parliament during the last sitting,” Pua said.
Last week, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman Mahathir challenged Nazri to a debate on several issues including 1MDB, the Bumiputera Malaysia Finance (BMF) scandal, and the RM2.6 billion deposited into Prime Minister Najib Razak’s personal bank accounts.
They have agreed to debate but no date has been set. However, it is believed it will take place during a visit by the PPBM leadership to Nazri’s parliamentary constituency of Padang Rengas, in Perak, later this month.
Pua believes that Nazri’s courage in taking on the PPBM chairman has put some in the Cabinet in a panic mode because “1MDB has been a subject matter which they have taken great pains to hide and cover up”.
“Even 1MDB CEO, Arul Kanda withdrew from a debate with me last year, after accepting a similar challenge with much bravado – holding a press conference in a hotel to say ‘Bring it on!’
“So, with the utter failure of Parliament, the next best thing Malaysians can hope for to gain the truth is via a debate. And one between one of the harshest critics of the Najib administration, versus one of the most senior Ministers in Najib’s cabinet could not have come at a better time,” Pua said, suggesting that the debate be broadcast live on RTM or TV3, if the government indeed had nothing to hide.