By Syauqi Jamil
KUALA LUMPUR: The newly founded Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will not be extending the existing probe but will start fresh on investigating issues.
PAC chief Dr Ronald Kiandee said this will also be applied to the reopening of investigation on controversial state investment arm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
“PAC is a committee under the Parliment and we are responsible to the Parliament. If a motion was passed on a returning report, we will absolutely carry out the investigations,” he said.
Earlier today, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng filed a motion in the Dewan Rakyat to reopen investigations pertaining to 1MDB.
Through the motion, Lim wants the Auditor-General and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to conduct detailed probe on 1MDB and had requested that all related information be made public.
Speaking in a press conference in Parliament, the Barisan Nasional Beluran MP said besides 1MDB, the bipartisan committee have also agreed to investigate other matters.
This includes the allegedly missing funds of some RM19 billion from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) repayment fund.
“We have also agreed in consensus to investigate the allegedly missing funds from the GST Repayment Fund,” he said.
Kiandee also commented on a recommendation letter from Opposition Leader Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to the Speaker on the replacement for Rompin MP Hasan Arifin, who had declined a post in the committee.
“Since Hasan is from the Opposition, his replacement will also be from there. I understand he will be replaced by Parit Sulong MP Noraini Ahmad. However this will be decided upon by the PAC’s selection committee which will be chaired by the Speaker,” he said.
