Ultimately, it is up to the public to decide whether Nazri’s statements are his own or reflect those of the government, says Mahathir, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman.

“I believe Nazri is brave; he will go (for the debate). But he is not representing the government because the government has distanced itself from the debate.

“Johari said the debate had nothing to do with the government, but that is up to the public to decide,” the former prime minister said at a press conference at PPBM headquarters here today.

Mahathir was referring to Second Finance Minister Johari Abdul Ghani who over the weekend said the highly-anticipated event was a “personal debate and has nothing to do with the government”.

Mahathir said his team were considering changing the debate into a discussion instead.

“This means he (Nazri) can speak about certain matters, then I can do the same, and the public can also ask questions.”

Mahathir also gave his assurance that the debate would not cause chaos although it was to be held in Padang Rengas, Nazri’s parliamentary constituency.

“I hope everyone will behave properly and listen to the debate.”

Last week, Mahathir challenged the tourism and culture minister to a debate on several issues, including the 1MDB and Bumiputra Malaysia Finance (BMF) financial scandals, and the RM2.6 billion deposited into Prime Minister Najib Razak’s personal bank accounts.

They have since agreed to hold the event in Nazri’s stronghold in Perak, which Mahathir will be visiting on March 25.

Talk about the BMF scandal was recently revived when declassified US Central Intelligence Agency documents linked the Mahathir administration to the US$1 billion (RM4.45 billion) Bank Bumiputra lost in bad loans in the 1980s.

Last year, Attorney-General Apandi Ali cleared Najib of any wrongdoing pertaining to the RM2.6 billion found in his bank accounts, saying he was satisfied with the explanation that the money was a personal donation from the Saudi royal family.