M’sian Parliament suspends PAC hearings on 1MDB

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s Parliament yesterday officially suspended all scheduled hearings on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) by the bipartisan Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the entire month of August.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw, the PAC’s Vice-Chairman said that 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 is required to have a minimum of three members, including
a chairman. Dr Tan revealed that no reasons were given for the suspension.

Witnesses linked to the 1MDB
issue were scheduled to provide their testimonies on the hearing dates 
of Aug 4, 5, 6, 17 and 18.

Dr Tan said it would not be possible now for the PAC to hold the proceedings, as all the Parliament doors would be locked on Tuesday. Instead, the five PAC members from the opposition will hold a press conference later today, where they will “sit at the lawn or somewhere”, said Dr Tan.

In a Cabinet reshuffle last Tuesday, then-PAC chairman Nur Jazlan Mohamed was appointed Deputy Home Minister.

He had announced that all PAC proceedings for next month, including its inquiry into 1MDB on its RM42 billion (S$15 billion) debt pile, would be temporarily halted until the next parliamentary session
in October.

This was followed by comments from Malaysia’s Speaker of Parliament Pandikar Amin Mulia Pandikar, 
who said last Thursday that “it is only fair” if the PAC is convened after the appointment of a new chairman.

Following the announcement, 1MDB released a statement yesterday indicating that it would be willing to appear before the reconvened committee on newly scheduled dates.

Mr Reezal Merican Naina Merican, 
former PAC member and newly appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, yesterday assured the public that there would be no cover-up of any information in the investigation on 1MDB.

He said: “The information received by each and every member is the same. When a particular matter is tabled, all the members will know about it.

“How can there be a conspiracy, if there are 30 people, to cover up or lie about a case, including the 1MDB issue? I can assure that there will be no room for covering up on sensitive issues such as 1MDB.” Agencies