Friday 29 Mar 2024
By
main news image

(June 11): Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) does not object to its proceedings on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) being televised live but cautioned that the decision lies with either the Dewan Rakyat speaker or Cabinet.

PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the bi-partisan committee cannot solely decide on the matter as current parliamentary procedures do not allow this to be done.

"I have no objection for PAC hearings be televised live. Most of the PAC members also held similar views.

"But the issue here is who can decide on this. Is it the speaker or the Cabinet?" he asked after chairing a PAC meeting in Parliament today.

Earlier, two DAP lawmakers, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and Ipoh Timur MP Thomas Su said Nur Jazlan had not responded to a letter written by them a week ago calling for PAC proceedings on 1MDB to be telecast live.

Former deputy minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah previously made a similar call, asking that PAC proceedings on 1MDB be telecast live.

Nur Jazlan said he has no objections if live telecast of PAC proceedings is made permanent.

But he noted that the matter might need Cabinet's approval.

"Parliament is still under the Cabinet under Parliament Services Act so whatever we want to do, it may still need Cabinet approval," he added.

Criticism has been mounting over the Finance Ministry wholly owned investment vehicle, established in 2009, which has chalked up debts of up to RM42 billion, backed by Putrajaya.

Scrutiny grew more intense following whistleblower site Sarawak Report's recent exposes, which piled pressure on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and prompted opposition politicians, former and current Umno leaders including long serving former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and anti-graft bodies to demand a thorough investigation into the fund.

The Auditor-General is currently looking through 1MDB's books, with a preliminary report expected to be submitted to the Parliament in June, while PAC started its investigation into the company last month. – The Malaysian Insider

      Print
      Text Size
      Share