This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on November 19, 2015.

KUALA LUMPUR: 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) has nothing to do with the RM2.6 billion deposited into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal bank accounts based on the Auditor-General’s (AG) interim report on the strategic development company, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin said.

“I must state here that 1MDB and RM2.6 billion are completely different subjects. 1MDB has nothing to do with the RM2.6 billion,” Hasan told reporters after chairing the PAC meeting yesterday.

Asked how the PAC came to this conclusion, Hasan said: “It is in the interim report.”

In August, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said the RM2.6 billion, which was channelled into Najib’s personal bank accounts came from donors. The anti-graft agency, however, did not identify the donors nor did it disclose how the RM2.6 billion was spent.

Hasan also said it is not necessary to call Najib to testify before the PAC to clarify the extent of his role in the troubled 1MDB for now.

In May, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli called on Najib to give his statement before the PAC to explain whether or not the prime minister’s written approval was given for all of 1MDB’s deals and investments after the federal government’s guarantee for 1MDB’s first bond.

1MDB president and group executive director Arul Kanda Kandasamy also reportedly said the requirement to obtain the prime minister’s written approval for any financial deals undertaken by the firm was never hidden from public knowledge.

Hasan’s predecessor Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed had previously said the bipartisan parliamentary committee would call the prime minister in the 1MDB probe if necessary.

Hasan said he will give a statement once the investigation into 1MDB is completed, adding that it is unfair for him to say anything now.

He added that the PAC will be calling Arul Kanda and former 1MDB chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Halmi next Monday, following a four-month delay.

On whether businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, will also be called, Hasan said the PAC will have to look at the legal framework first to see whether he has any connection with 1MDB.

“Even now Interpol does not know where he is. How to serve [the notice]?” he said.

Asked whether the PAC can issue a notice demanding Jho Low to be present as it may not be that difficult to find him, Hasan said, “We can issue, but our duty is to make a report to the Parliament and Jho Low is not a party actually.”

“But we have to look at the [legal] framework [first], whether or not we can serve [the notice] legally,” he added.