KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 18): Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chief Datuk Hasan Ariffin said he was satisfied with 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) president Arul Kanda Kandasamy's testimony before the panel today, hours after he reportedly banned the media from entering Parliament and covering the hearing.

Hasan said the hearing lasted three hours, with Arul Kanda explaining to the committee the debt-ridden state-owned investment firm's rationalisation plan.

"I am satisfied with Arul Kanda's explanation today," Hasan said in a statement.

"PAC will resume the proceedings on 1MDB's management and administration by summoning its chairman, Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin on January 19 2016 and former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh on January 20 2016."

He added that PAC would also summon former 1MDB president Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi again if the need arose.

He said the bipartisan panel would give the National Audit Department until the end of February to complete and table its report on 1MDB.

PAC resumed its hearing on 1MDB today, but the media was abruptly barred from entering Parliament, reportedly on Hasan's orders.

A policeman on duty at the Parliament's gates told The Malaysian Insider that he had received instructions from the highest authority not to allow journalists into the premise.

Media personnel were forced to wait by the road outside the gates.

Arul Kanda was testifying before PAC for the second time, following five hours of questioning on December 1.

Hasan, who became PAC chief this year, has decided to no longer brief the press after the panel’s meeting, a departure from usual practice.

PAC was to have received the auditor-general’s final report on 1MDB but this was delayed, with Hasan previously saying it had to be "updated".