Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Tell us when to come again, 1MDB says after PAC hearings frozen

KUALA LUMPUR — 1 Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) today (Aug 3) said it will await notification of new dates to meet with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), in apparent indication that it will not attend any of the previously scheduled hearings by the parliamentary watchdog.

Men walk past a 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) billboard at the funds flagship Tun Razak Exchange development in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 1, 2015. Photo: Reuters

Men walk past a 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) billboard at the funds flagship Tun Razak Exchange development in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 1, 2015. Photo: Reuters

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

KUALA LUMPUR — 1 Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) today (Aug 3) said it will await notification of new dates to meet with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), in apparent indication that it will not attend any of the previously scheduled hearings by the parliamentary watchdog.

In a statement affirming its respect for the PAC as the lawful authority to investigate it, the state-owned firm said that it has been informed by the Finance Ministry that all the sessions in August have been postponed under the directive of the Dewan Rakyat Secretary.

“We have confidence that the bi-partisan committee presents a fair opportunity for 1MDB to explain the company’s position, to a lawful authority, per the requirements of due process.”

“We once again reiterate our intention to extend our full cooperation to the PAC and look forward to appearing before the committee on the new dates,” 1MDB said in a statement today.

Earlier today, PAC vice-chair Dr Tan Seng Giaw revealed that Parliament Secretary Roosme Hamzah has issued notices informing the committee that its sessions for August have been suspended.

Dr Tan said the notices were sent out despite the fact that only PAC members can decide on whether or not to continue or to freeze its proceedings, adding that the panel’s meeting are required to have a minimum of three members including a chairman.

The dates mentioned in the notice were August 4, 5, 6, 17 and 18, which are the dates scheduled for witnesses linked to the 1MDB issue to provide their testimonies.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said last week that the PAC must halt its investigation into 1MDB until a new chairman is named to replace Mr Nur Jazlan Mohamed, who resigned after being appointed deputy home minister.

Besides Mr Nur Jazlan, three other Barisan Nasional MPs on the PAC were also brought into the Najib administration during a Cabinet reshuffle last week.

Prior to the appointments, the PAC had scheduled August 4 and 5 to question 1MDB chief executive Arul Kanda Kandasamy and his predecessor, Mr Shahrul Ibrahim Halmi, as part of their investigation into the state-owned firm’s dealings. THE MALAY MAIL ONLINE

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.