Former minister Zaid Ibrahim has criticised 1MDB president and executive director Arul Kanda’s presence at an event in Sungai Besar to explain issues concerning the fund.

He said it should be Penang-born billionaire Jho Low, whose name has been repeatedly raised in the global investigations on 1MDB, doing the explaining to voters.

Apart from this, he added that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should also be invited to clear the air.

"1MDB needs to call (Prime Minister) Najib Abdul Razak and Jho Low to Sungai Besar.

"What’s the point of (having) Arul Kanda? Budak makan gaji (wage earner)," stated Zaid in a Twitter posting.

This morning, Arul spoke at an event organised by the Prime Minister's Department for civil servants in Sungai Besar, where a by-election would be held on June 18.

BN's candidate for Sungai Besar Budiman Mohd Zohdi was also present.

Taking the stage, Arul Kanda had stressed that the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) was not meant to cover 1MDB's debts.

He also emphasised that the multi-billion deposits which entered Najib's personal bank accounts had nothing to do with 1MDB.

Jho Low has been a central figure after he was named as the alleged beneficiary of Good Star Limited, which received US$1.03 billion of 1MDB's funds.

This was disclosed in an alleged confidential letter by Bank Negara leaked to The Wall Street Journal.

Jho Low and his associates have also been named in several other 1MDB transactions where its funds cannot be accounted for.

Jho Low had denied any wrongdoings or links to 1MDB.

Free time

Meanwhile, DAP's Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua criticised Arul Kanda for being able to take time off to help BN on its campaign but yet refused to debate with him on 1MDB.

"He had previously gave the excuse that he needed to focus on assisting the investigation by Malaysian authorities and to resolve the complicated problem between 1MDB and the International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC).

"Arul cannot possibly have so much free time on his hand to leave his more important duties, especially after being sued for US$6.5 billion on top of being involved in investigations at home and abroad," he said in a press statement.

Yesterday, IPIC announced that it was taking 1MDB and Malaysia's Finance Ministry to international attribution to recover funds owed by 1MDB to it as well as other compensations totalling US$6.5 billion.

Pua said if Arul Kanda did indeed have free time to make the trip to Sungai Besar, he would like to invite him to Pakatan Harapan's ceramah tomorrow to explain the issue.

"I believe the public is disappointed and angry at Najib's government and will welcome Arul's explanation about the gigantic scandal," he added.

The organiser of the event had denied the event was related to the by-election.