COMMENT The 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal that saw Malaysia’s reputation seriously tarnished by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) requires more than just a public debate between Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The DOJ had accused Malaysian leaders as kleptocrats yet Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is in the midst of the storm, did nothing to clear the name of the country. We are not only embarrassed but we have no defence to make, unlike the assassination of the late Kim Jong-nam at the KLIA2 airport.

The DOJ in its civil lawsuit had also claimed that US$741 million has gone into the personal accounts of Malaysian Official No 1 (popularly known now as MO1), whom EPU Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan had identified to the international media as none other than Najib himself.

Such a big scandal cannot go unnoticed. Therefore, any debate should not suffice with just Nazri and Mahathir. In fact, like any debate teams in school, the Barisan National team should include Abdul Rahman and 1MDB chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy.

Meanwhile, the other side should include both Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Tony Pua. Based on previous records, both Lim and Pua were already geared up for the debate, but Rahman and Arul Kanda were a disappointment.

At the eleventh hour, the debate was called off, much to the disappointment of thousands of people who were waiting to attend the public debate, or at least watch it online...