KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — The Cabinet’s refusal to convene an emergency parliamentary session to appoint a new Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chief disregards the public’s desire to see it continue investigating 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), said DAP MP Tan Seng Giaw.
Tan, who is PAC vice-chairman, said that there are sufficient numbers for the watchdog to continue its probe into the state-owned firm despite the resignation of four members, but this was being blocked by the Speaker of Parliament.
“The public want PAC to continue with the investigation of 1MDB without interruptions. The government decision does not take the feeling of the people into consideration,” Tan said in a statement today.
Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman announced that the new appointments to the PAC will only be made when Parliament convenes in October as scheduled.
The decision also means the panel will have to delay its inquiry into 1MDB though the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs was quick to add that the move was not a deliberate attempt to interfere with investigations.
Opposition lawmakers who are current members of the bipartisan PAC have been urging the federal government to hasten the appointment of the panel’s new chairman and members to replace those from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) who have been elevated as ministers and deputy ministers following a recent revamp last month.
Former PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed resigned from his position after he was named deputy home minister during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Cabinet reshuffle last month.
Aside from Nur Jazlan, three other BN lawmakers who were part of the PAC were also appointed to various ministries.
According to Parliament’s Standing Orders, PAC members may not be holders of government positions.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has said that any of the remaining PAC members may not chair the proceedings before a new chairman is appointed.
