Federal govt cannot stop PAC investigation: Abdul Rahman

KUALA LUMPUR: The federal government has no power to halt the ongoing investigation by Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), says Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
The Barisan Nasional strategic communications director said the investigation could only be stopped once the committee had made a conclusion and presented the name to members of the Dewan Rakyat.
"Will the recent four appointments derail or stop the investigation altogether? The answer is, absolutely not. The Government has no power to stop any investigation by Parliament," he said in his latest Facebook posting today.
Abdul Rahman, who is also urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister, said PAC did not cease its function of investigation just because some of the members of parliament ceased being PAC members.
The appointment of four PAC members in the new Cabinet line-up and government administration by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak last week has drawn criticism from several quarters, including opposition politicians who have accused the government of trying to meddle with the ongoing investigation into the 1MDB issue.
In the Cabinet reshuffle on July 28, PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed was named deputy home minister.
The other three PAC members given Cabinet posts are Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau (science, technology and innovation minister), Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (foreign deputy minister) and Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (tourism and culture deputy minister).
Abdul Rahman said the PAC investigation could be delayed for about two months before Parliament's third sitting begins in early October.
"I doubt PAC would be crippled just because four of its members have been promoted to the front bench. PAC has been around since Independence and remains as the beacon of parliamentary democracy. They will continue to be so, as long as parliament is still functioning," he added.
Abdul Rahman also said there was a merit or justification in the delay, since there had been new revelation of forged documents by the Sarawak Report and confession of individuals on the conspiracy theories.
"It will be wise for the PAC to wait until the dust settles and a clearer picture emerges. Otherwise, PAC might be making conclusions based on faulty assumptions," he said. – Bernama