Opposition PAC members adamant that hearing must continue: Deputy chairman

PETALING JAYA: The five opposition members in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) are adamant about attending its schduled meeting on Tuesday to continue hearing the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue.
"There is nothing wrong in having the meeting and questioning where the money went. It is not about making a decision," PAC deputy chairman Tan Seng Giaw (pix) told theSun today.
"1MDB is a much bigger issue compared with the appointments of new deputy ministers," he said in response to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia's reported call not to go on with the hearing.
Pandikar was reported as saying earlier today that the hearing cannot resume until a new chairman is elected in October, and that it is better for the remaining PAC members to wait to avoid disputes on validity of the proceedings.
According to the Barisan Nasional backbenchers club (BNBBC) news portal, Pandikar 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 is unable to attend, and does not apply if the chairman has to vacate his seat in the committee.
Describing Pandikar's statement as a matter of intepretation, Tan said the Standing Order 77(3) states that any PAC member can be nominated to chair the committee meeting, when a chairman is unable to attend.
"Unable to attend or being absent from the meeting could be for any reason. It does not specify that the meeting cannot continue when its members are appointed as deputy ministers," he stressed.
On Tuesday, PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed and three other BN members were appointed as members of the administration by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, who is also 1MDB advisory board chairman.
The other three are Datuk Wilfred Madius (science, technology and innovation minister), Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (deputy Foreign minister) and Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (deputy tourism and culture minister).
"We cannot wait three months until a chairman is appointed when Parliament sitting convenes. The matter is urgent and the meeting is in the best interest of the people.
"Are you saying we cannot ask relevant questions on 1MDB's accounts and funds until a chairman is appointed?" he asked.
Tan said the people would be upset it the opposition members backed out on the meeting until October, and stressed they would proceed as scheduled to fulfil their duty to the people.
"1IMDB is a much bigger issue compared with the new appointments of deputy ministers," he said, reiterating that the five opposition members will be at the meeting as scheduled.
They also expect 1MDB's past and present chief executive officers Shahrol Halmi and Arul Kanda Kandasamy to appear for questioning.
Tan said PAC meetings cannot be delayed or halted because the people are demanding answers for the long-standing issue.
It is, however, unknown if the four remaining PAC members from from the BN – Datuk Abd Aziz Sheikh Fadzir (Kulim Bandar Baru), Datuk Liang Teck Meng (Simpang Renggam), Hasbi Habibollah (Limbang) and Datuk Wee Jeck Seng (Tanjung Piai) will be attending.