Arul Kanda Answers Hard Hitting Questions On Live TV About 1MDB
He has been grilled by international newsmen and gone on air worldwide to field questions on 1MDB so appearing in a live interview on a local national TV channel should be a walk in the park.
However in the almost hour-long session with TV1 host, Sayed Munawir Sayed Mustafa, Arul Kanda found himself subjected to rigorous grilling and his answers put under the microscope as Sayed did not let him off easy, despite what many would have assumed to be a 'friendly' interview by a government owned TV station.
The 1MDB CEO performed flawlessly under the circumstances, exhibiting a total command of the vast amount of facts and issues that have been the source of so much debate and controversy among our corridors of power and in the international arena.
Blogger Ahirudin Attan in his blog Rocky's Bru, had even pointed out how Arul had become such a formidable opponent to opposition politicians as the real reason that the likes of Tony Pua and Rafizi Ramli dislike him so much.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report tabled in Parliament recently never mentioned any criminal misconduct in relation to its investigation into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Arul highlighted in the interview.
However, the PAC did stress the existence of weaknesses in the company's financial management governance and decision making process since the beginning of the establishment of 1MDB from Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA).
Pic: RTM1
“In the PAC report, there was no reference to the word misconduct or wrong doing. There wasn’t any mention of crime or criminal act either. What it did say is there are weaknesses and constraints in governance of 1MDB.
“Nevertheless, the PAC did ask the relevant authorities to carry out further investigations to find out whether there is any misconduct, he said in the exclusive dialogue session entitled '1MDB: Perception and Reality' aired on RTM1, yesterday.
The interviewer, Sayed Munawir posed many probing questions regarding 1MDB, including whether the Auditor-General's report should be declassified from the Official Secrets Act (OSA) to dispel public doubts and prove once and for all that 1MDB has nothing to hide.
In contrast to a previous interview Arul had appeard on TV3 in its 'Soal Jawab TV3' session the same issue, Sayed Munawir did not let up in his insistence to get Arul out of his comfort zone in asking hard questions on the contentious issues surrounding 1MDB, including the OSA classification of the Auditor-General report and PAC's findings, to give credible answers that can finally clear the air on the government-owned investment fund.
“The PAC report is a short version or summary of what's included in the Auditor General's report. All important issues have been included by PAC in the report. In my view, the PAC report represents a collective report by the opposition and the Government.
“Secondly, it validates the facts which have already been publicly stated by 1MDB and thirdly, it shows accountability and the way to move forward,” he added, pointing out that all these are old news which have already been investigated and ironed out.
However, the PAC did stress the existence of weaknesses in the company's financial management governance and decision making process since the beginning of the establishment of 1MDB from Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA).
Pic: RTM1“In the PAC report, there was no reference to the word misconduct or wrong doing. There wasn’t any mention of crime or criminal act either. What it did say is there are weaknesses and constraints in governance of 1MDB.
“Nevertheless, the PAC did ask the relevant authorities to carry out further investigations to find out whether there is any misconduct, he said in the exclusive dialogue session entitled '1MDB: Perception and Reality' aired on RTM1, yesterday.
The interviewer, Sayed Munawir posed many probing questions regarding 1MDB, including whether the Auditor-General's report should be declassified from the Official Secrets Act (OSA) to dispel public doubts and prove once and for all that 1MDB has nothing to hide.
In contrast to a previous interview Arul had appeard on TV3 in its 'Soal Jawab TV3' session the same issue, Sayed Munawir did not let up in his insistence to get Arul out of his comfort zone in asking hard questions on the contentious issues surrounding 1MDB, including the OSA classification of the Auditor-General report and PAC's findings, to give credible answers that can finally clear the air on the government-owned investment fund.
“The PAC report is a short version or summary of what's included in the Auditor General's report. All important issues have been included by PAC in the report. In my view, the PAC report represents a collective report by the opposition and the Government.
“Secondly, it validates the facts which have already been publicly stated by 1MDB and thirdly, it shows accountability and the way to move forward,” he added, pointing out that all these are old news which have already been investigated and ironed out.
“1MDB is an open book, not only investigated by the Audit Department, we have also been investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Bank Negara, as well as PAC. So, there is nothing to be hide”.
He said, 1MDB has never tried to conceal any facts, each litigation and the accusations issued by the opposition has been rebutted, said Arul.
He said, 1MDB has never tried to conceal any facts, each litigation and the accusations issued by the opposition has been rebutted, said Arul.
“All existing documents from 1MDB have been surrendered to the Audit Department, to the PAC and all relevant authorities."
“In my opinion, the Auditor General's report is for the use of PAC. It's not a report to be shared in general, where statutory bodies is indeed correct that the Auditor-General must submit the report to the Parliament and will then be debated by PAC.
“When allegations surfaced against 1MDB in February 2015, the Government had decided immediately to request the Auditor-General to conduct an audit of 1MDB and present the report to the PAC so that PAC can use it to accurately access the actual situation in relation to the company.
On the opposition's accusation that the PAC report on 1MDB only unearthed more questions in opening the 'Pandora Box' on the company, Arul reiterated that he had always acknowledged that problems exist in 1MDB and has been focused on the company's rationalization plan.
“In my opinion, the Auditor General's report is for the use of PAC. It's not a report to be shared in general, where statutory bodies is indeed correct that the Auditor-General must submit the report to the Parliament and will then be debated by PAC.
“When allegations surfaced against 1MDB in February 2015, the Government had decided immediately to request the Auditor-General to conduct an audit of 1MDB and present the report to the PAC so that PAC can use it to accurately access the actual situation in relation to the company.
On the opposition's accusation that the PAC report on 1MDB only unearthed more questions in opening the 'Pandora Box' on the company, Arul reiterated that he had always acknowledged that problems exist in 1MDB and has been focused on the company's rationalization plan.
Pic: RTM1“We admit there are problems within the company. But what's important is politicians do not inflame unfounded allegations by taking issues in the report out of context especially if one is a member of the PAC as well," Arul clealy referred to the actions of Tony Pua, who is a member of the PAC, as well as vocal public criticism by PKR lawmaker, Rafizi Ramli shortly after the PAC report was tabled.“I think YB Rafizi might be jealous because I've always responded to YB Tony Pua's taunts. But the fact is that when they make inflammatory statements, they only tell a part of the story which is far from the whole picture which represents the facts of the case.
“Meaning, they will mention A, but will not say B, the sole purpose being to smear 1MDB's name further using half-truths. So to me it's not transparent and not professional,” he emphasized again.
In closing, Arul also addressed the issue of the Board of Directors offering to tender their resignation in stressing their professionalism in respecting the due process as well as reiterated that 1MDB has not been contacted by any international bodies with regards to the much reported Swiss investigations as well as the latest 1MDB controversy IPIC and Aabar Investments. On this latest development, Arul also highlighted his suspicion of foul play where 1MDB could have been a victim of fraud.
-Malaysian Digest
