KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 ― Any move to freeze a bipartisan parliamentary committee’s probe into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy will only prove that yesterday’s Cabinet reshuffle was ultimately aimed at sabotaging the investigation, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang said today.

Lim was responding to Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed’s remarks yesterday that the PAC probe on 1MDB will have to be suspended until the next Parliament sitting in October when another person is appointed to replace him.

“If PAC probe into 1MDB grinds to a halt, it will be best  proof that the overriding objective of the  Cabinet reshuffle yesterday was to block, frustrate, sabotage or drag out  investigations into biggest financial scandal in nation’s history,” the DAP parliamentary leader said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Nur Jazlan said he will step down as PAC chairman as he has been appointed deputy home minister, also saying that three other lawmakers from ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) must also quit their PAC posts due to their ministerial appointments.

The trio were appointed in the Cabinet reshuffle - Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (deputy foreign affairs minister), Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (deputy tourism and culture minister) and Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau (science, technology & innovation minister).

Today, Lim accused Nur Jazlan of having a conflict of interest when announcing the suspension of the PAC’s 1MDB probe until the October parliamentary sitting, pointing out that there is already a list of 1MDB-linked individuals scheduled to testify in the next few weeks.

Lim listed those expected to testify as 1MDB’s current and former chief executives like Arul Kanda, Datuk Shahrul Ibrahim Halmi, Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman , former directors including Mohd Bakke Salleh and Azlan Mohd Zainol and business Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.

Lim argued that even if PAC loses four members due to the Cabinet reshuffle, the committee would have enough numbers to continue the 1MDB hearings, based on parliamentary standing orders.

The PAC can also continue the 1MDB hearing under vice-chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw, without having to wait for the new chairman to be appointed, he added.

Parliamentary Standing Orders 77(2) provides that the PAC shall consist of a Chairman and Vice Chairman to be appointed by Parliament, and not less than six and not more than 12 members to be appointed by the Committee of Selection, he said.

The PAC only requires three lawmakers to make up its quorum, and Dr Tan could lead PAC as acting chairman with the remaining four BN lawmakers and four other opposition lawmakers, he said.

Dr Tan has told Malay Mail Online that the PAC will continue its probe on 1MDB as there is enough quorum and members remaining despite the Cabinet reshuffle, with nine of them sufficient to meet the parliamentary standing orders’ requirement of a minimum six members.

He saw no reason to delay the PAC probe from August to October when Parliament resumes.

For its probe, the PAC is also expected to recall 1MDB’s then-auditors Deloitte, KPMG and Ernst & Young to answer discrepancies raised by the Auditor-General’s interim report on the state-owned firm.