This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on November 4, 2015.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia (pic) said today he would quit his post as the Dewan Rakyat speaker if the government pressed ahead in hosting a debate between 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) president Arul Kanda Kandasamy and Petaling Jaya Utara member of parliament Tony Pua.
Pandikar said the debate could not be allowed unless Pua quit as a member of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), as the latter’s involvement could prejudice its probe into 1MDB.
“If this is continued, I will quit as speaker.” he said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Pandikar said if he allowed the debate, there would be no need for PAC investigations on issues after that.
“If I allow this debate, there is no need for PAC or any other committees,” he said.
“Let everyone just hold debates, there is no use having a committee then.”
Pandikar also denied having discussed the debate with the executive before making the decision.
“We all have our roles. It is my role as a speaker to see if standing orders are being adhered to,” he said.
“I have to do my job, hence I can’t allow this debate.” — The Malaysian Insider.