KUALA LUMPUR: KPMG, which was the auditor for troubled 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) between September 2010 and December 2013, said it has not heard from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the audit firm’s slated appearance before the bipartisan body next month since investigation into the strategic development company was temporarily suspended.

The suspension follows the recent appointment of four PAC members, including its chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamad into the Cabinet after a reshuffle.

“No, we have not received any letter or notification from the PAC [on the 1MDB investigation],” KPMG managing partner Datuk Johan Idris told a press conference to present KPMG’s latest study on 2015 Global Audit Committee Survey yesterday.

“We also did not receive a letter from the PAC on the second summon [for questioning],” he added.

The PAC first questioned KPMG and current 1MDB auditor Deloitte in June this year.

Following this, it was reported that the PAC had called upon KPMG, Deloitte and another former 1MDB auditor Ernst & Young (EY) for another round of questioning this September on alleged discrepancies raised by the Auditor-General in the interim report on 1MDB.

1MDB, since its inception in 2009, has changed its auditors three times. KPMG was appointed 1MDB’s auditor after EY’s services were terminated in 2010. Its services were terminated by 1MDB in December 2013. Deloitte is 1MDB’s current auditor after taking over from KPMG.

On opposition lawmakers’ criticism that KPMG had let down Malaysians following alleged discrepancies over its audit of 1MDB, Johan declined to elaborate, only saying that KPMG’s work is based on professional standards.

“As a professional firm, our work is based on professional standards and we need to abide by professional rules,” said Johan. “We abide by confidentiality in what we can say. That is all I can comment,” he added.

Petaling Jaya Utara Member of Parliament Tony Pua had earlier lodged a report with the Malaysian Institute of Accountants against KPMG and EY for alleged discrepancies in 1MDB’s financials.

This article first appeared in digitaledge Daily, on August 12, 2015.