(Aug 12): New members for the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will only be appointed when Parliament reconvenes on October 19, said Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

The minister in the prime minister’s department said this was the Cabinet's decision at its weekly meeting today. This means there will not be a special parliamentary sitting to decide on both matters.

The announcement also means a delay to PAC's investigation into debt-ridden state investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

In a statement uploaded on her website, Azalina said the decision was taken based on a few factors, including the time needed to nominate new names to replace the current members in both panels.

The minister in charge of parliament said Putrajaya cannot rush in nominating anyone to the PSC, which is the most important committee in Parliament.

The PSC is headed by speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia and is tasked with appointing members to the various committees of the lower house, including the PAC.

It has six members, namely Pagoh MP Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Cameron Highlands MP Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, former opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, Bentong MP Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Selangau MP Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun.

There had been question marks over its composition, following the removal of Muhyiddin and Palanivel from the cabinet in a reshuffle late last month.

Anwar, meanwhile, is in prison serving a five-year sentence for sodomy.

Azalina said the respective parties will nominate the names of the candidates to the PSC, including BN which will propose the name of its new chief whip.

Muhyiddin who was the former deputy prime minister, was also BN chief whip. His post has been taken over by home minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is expected to takeover as the ruling coalition chief whip.

As for the opposition, a new member will have to be nominated, said Azalina.

"The appointment of a new PAC chairman and members will be done as soon as the PSC members have been replaced.

"After that, the PAC can continue with the duties entrusted to it, including resuming its proceeding on 1MDB," she said, referring to troubled state investment vehicle 1Malaysia Development Berhad which is currently under probe by various quarters over alleged financial irregularities.

The PAC investigation into 1MDB hit a snag following the cabinet reshuffle when four of its members, including its chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed were elevated to ministerial positions.

PAC was to review an inspection of 1MDB's accounts by the auditor-general who had submitted an interim report, as well as question the company's current and former top executives.

This did not materialise because of changes to the committee, which had led to calls by the opposition and some Umno members for the cabinet to quickly appoint a new PAC chairman instead of waiting until the next parliamentary meeting.

Azalina today stressed that the government did not deliberately delaying the PAC probe into 1MDB, saying that the proceedings can only resume after the appointment of its new members, come October 19.

"At the same time, it is hoped that PAC can resume its investigation into 1MDB after the full report on 1MDB by the auditor-general is completed for PAC perusal," she added. – The Malaysian Insider