PAC vice-chair Tan Seng Giaw
KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 31: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) insisted today that it will continue its investigation into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
This is despite statements made by both Parliament Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia who suspended the committee’s investigation after four of its 13 members were ‘promoted’ to Cabinet, including PAC chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
“We will continue our meetings with personnel connected to 1MDB scandal as we received no letter informing us about PAC’s suspension,” said PAC vice-chairman Dr. Tan Seng Giaw.
The vacancies in PAC is one of the outcomes of the recent cabinet reshuffle initiated by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
The cabinet reshuffle marked the first time ever in Malaysia history whereby four PAC members were promoted to cabinet – a move which forced them to terminate their tenure in PAC.
Others who received the so-called promotion were PAC members Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau, and Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.
Tan said that the Standing Order 77(3) does not state that when one of the PAC members is being promoted to a minister, all PAC’s work has to be halted immediately.
“We have nine people remaining in PAC while the minimum quorum for a PAC meeting is three, we can deal with this. We are also capable of asking relevant question to fair out the truth regarding the 1MDB financial mismanagement,” he said.
“The question of the composition or the line-up or the balance of the party just doesn’t arise. All we want to know is the truth,” added Tan.
Similarly, PAC member Tony Pua, who is also the DAP National Publicity Secretary, rapped Pandikar who urged PAC to stop their investigation unless a new chairman has been elected.
“The interpretation of Standing Orders by Pandikar is an absolute abuse of power and it makes mockery on the government and Parliament speaker himself,” Pua said.
Prior to the cabinet reshuffle, PAC scheduled meetings on August 4 and 5 to call in both former and current 1MDB chief executive Shahrul Halmi and Arul Kanda Kandasamy respectively for questioning regarding the 1MDB scandal.
