PAC: 1MDB probe to continue where it left off

THE Finance Ministry plans to table a motion calling for the AuditorGeneral and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to reopen a probe into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

The motion appeared in the Dewan Rakyat Order Paper by the ministry yesterday.

It is expected to be tabled today, which is the last day of the Parliament sitting.

“The Dewan Rakyat resolves that the Auditor-General and PAC conduct again a detailed investigation on the embezzlement of monies and the scandal with regard to 1MDB and its related companies in order to restore the dignity of the Dewan Rakyat; and that all related information should be made public,” read the motion.

Speaking to reporters, PAC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said the committee was prepared to carry out the investigation.

He said PAC was created under Parliament and would carry out any investigations approved by it.

“If there is such motion, of course we will investigate,” he said, adding all reports would also be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.

On whether former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would be called up by PAC, Kiandee said it was too premature to decide.

“It must be done based on the term of reference and the strategies of the established investigation.

“We will definitely have to ask the Auditor-General to brief the new committee on the extent of the investigation into 1MDB and the term of reference based on the minister’s motion,” he said.

“We have yet to sit down to determine the term of reference.”

Asked how many people would be called up to assist the probe, Kiandee replied: “As normally done.”

He said they had yet to determine a time frame for the investigation, but would liaise with the Attorney General’s Chambers.

“Once we get the briefing from the Auditor-General on what has been investigated, we will follow up from there.

“We will not be repeating the list of names they have called, but an extension to what has already been investigated,” he said.

Kiandee also noted that PAC would be investigating claims that RM18bil of Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds had gone “missing” and the reports within the AuditorGeneral’s 2017 report.

The PAC, in the previous Parliament session under the Barisan Nasional government, looked into 1MDB and cleared Najib of any involvement in the sovereign fund’s dealings in April 2016.

It did not reinvestigate when new statements from the United States Department of Justice on 1MDB emerged.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Najib said he had no problem with the proposed motion.

“PAC had already spent six months and decided I did nothing wrong as prime minister and finance minister.

“If they want to reopen the investigation, there is nothing for me to object because we want to find the truth,” he said.

Najib said the government had the right to reopen the probe, but it should not be doing so just to find fault.