This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on February 24, 2016.

KUALA LUMPUR: The final auditor-general’s (AG) report on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) will be tabled in the first week of March, said Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin.

In a statement yesterday, he confirmed that the tabling of the report initially scheduled for today and tomorrow had been postponed.

He said the postponement to next week was because most PAC members were overseas to perform the umrah (minor pilgrimage) and attending to important commitments.

“It is important for all PAC members to be present to hear the tabling of the report,” he said.

The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that PAC members were informed of the postponement in a late night message on Monday.

The message from PAC secretary Johan Afandi read: “Greetings Dato’/Datuk/YB, it is informed that considering many PAC members are abroad, some fulfilling their umrah and other important commitments, the tabling of the auditor-general’s final report on 1MDB scheduled for February 24 and 25 has been postponed to a date that will be informed later. Thank you.”

It was not known who among the PAC members were abroad or performing their umrah, as Parliament is only due to convene on March 7.

On Feb 11, before news of the postponement, Hasan said the focus would now be on the AG’s final report on 1MDB to be tabled before the bipartisan committee today and tomorrow.

“The committee will consider calling more witnesses to assist in the PAC report on 1MDB’s management after the AG’s report is tabled if it is appropriate and necessary to do so,” he said.

He urged the public not to doubt the transparency of the committee’s report that will be tabled in Parliament.

“Our priority is to listen to the AG’s final report on 1MDB and to complete our report,” Hasan said. — The Malaysian Insider