I was not invited to 1MDB forum: Rafizi

15 Nov 2015 / 22:18 H.
    I was not invited to 1MDB forum: Rafizi
    File picture of Rafizi Ramli in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 30, 2015 taken during a press conference on the GST, fake emails issue and New Year's Eve gathering issue at the PKR headquarter, Tropicana. SUNPIX by DANIEL CHAN

PETALING JAYA: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) secretary-general Rafizi Ramli today said he did not receive any invitation to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Trans-Pacific Partnership Development (TPPA) and Budget 2016 forum held at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) on Saturday.
"No. I never got the invitation. Furthermore, it should not be a forum but a debate," he told theSun.
Rafizi, who is also Pandan MP, expressed shock in his blog, saying that 1MDB president and chief executive Arul Kanda Kandasamy had "once again said he was not afraid to face anyone concerning 1MDB; which includes me and Tony Pua".
He said this statement was made in front of Umno supporters at the party's headquarters and everyone was waiting for the open debate between him (Arul Kanda) and Pua but it never took off.
Rafizi was later nominated to replace Pua.
He alleged that Arul Kanda knew that Pua would be tied to the result of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) probe into 1MDB and would uphold it above all else.
Rafizi said he will be writing to both Arul Kanda and the Malay daily Sinar Harian as the organiser to hold the debate.
The date will be set by the organiser, he said in his blog in an entry titled "ArulKanda Jangan Hanya Berani di Depan Penyokong Umno, Sahut Segera Cabaran Berdebat" (ArulKanda Should Not Only Be Brave in Front of Umno Supporters, Embrace Immediately the Challenge to Debate).
He had chosen Sinar Harian as it had previously organised forums and debates between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan.
Last Saturday, the briefing was attended by about 1,000 people comprising Umno members and the public.
Arul Kanda had reportedly said he was willing to meet anyone, including Rafizi and Petaling Jaya Utara MP Pua to brief them on 1MDB's financial status.
He was also asked by a veteran Umno member during the question-and-answer session why former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was not invited to the event.
Arul Kanda responded that everyone was invited as the session was open to the public.
At press time, Pua did not respond if he had received any invitation and it is not known if Mahathir was sent an invitation.

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