Friday 29 Mar 2024
By
main news image

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 3): 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)'s scheduled appointment with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) tomorrow (Aug 4) in the latter's probe into the state-owned strategic investment fund has been postponed indefinitely.

In a statement today, 1MDB said it has received an official notification — through the Ministry of Finance — from the Secretariat of Dewan Rakyat/Setiausaha Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara, that the hearing scheduled on Aug 4, 5, 6, 17 and 18, 2015, as well as Sept 8 and 10, 2015, have been postponed to a date to be determined later.

Of special note were the hearings scheduled for Aug 4, 5, 6, which were fixed for the apperance of 1MDB’s former and current chief executives, namely: former CEO Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi (Aug 4), followed by president and group executive director Arul Kanda Kandasamy (Aug 5) and Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman, who served as 1MDB's CEO from March 2013 to January 2015 (Aug 6).

“We once again reiterate our intention to extend our full cooperation to the PAC and look forward to appearing before the committee on the new dates,” 1MDB said in the statement.

It added that it respects the PAC as the lawful authority and the appropriate forum for questions on 1MDB to be asked and answered.

“We have confidence that the bi-partisan committee presents a fair opportunity for 1MDB to explain the company’s position, to a lawful authority, per the requirements of due process,” 1MDB said.

Its statement came after Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia had decreed last week that the PAC probe on 1MDB could not resume until the a new chairperson was elected.

Pandikar had said that although Meeting Order 77(3) allows a PAC member to be nominated to chair the committee meeting, it is only if the chairperson or his deputy were unable to attend.

The order, Pandikar had cited, could not be used if the chairman himself had to vacate his chair in the committee, reported BN backbenchers club news portal BNBBC.my.

However, PAC deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw pledged earlier today that the inquiry into 1MDB would continue tomorrow regardless of the fact that the committee has lost its chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed and three other members, who have been appointed to the Cabinet and as deputy ministers in the Cabinet reshuffle last week

Tan had said that it was “unreasonable” to suspend the probe for three months — as Parliament reconvenes only in October — in order to elect a new PAC chairman and members.

 

      Print
      Text Size
      Share