PAC gets green light to proceed

Committee to conduct its own probe into alleged tampering of 1MDB report

THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) can proceed with its probe into the alleged tampering of 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s (1MDB) final audit report, says PAC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.

He said Attorney General Tommy Thomas had given the green light for the committee to conduct its own proceedings, set to begin on Dec 4.

Dr Kiandee said the PAC had written to the AG’s Chambers to seek clarification whether the committee’s investigations into the alleged tampering can continue in light of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) own investi- gation into the matter.

“Attorney General Tommy Thomas replied that an interference, if any, would only occur if criminal proceedings were initiated in court against any individual with regard to the alleged tampering.

“At the moment, the MACC has just started its investigations and there are no criminal proceedings that are ongoing in court in relation to it.

“Owing to this, the AG’s Chambers is of the view that there is no legal barrier for the PAC to carry on its proceedings,” said Dr Kiandee on the letter he received from Thomas.

The letter, dated Nov 28, also stated that it is usual for various enforcement agencies or other authorities to carry out simultaneous investigations into the same issue.

On Monday, the PAC wrote to Thomas seeking legal advice on the matter as the MACC had also opened its own investigations into the alleged tampering of the report.

The anti-graft agency had called in former auditor-general Tan Sri Ambrin Buang on Monday for a statement.

On Sunday morning, current Auditor-General Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad issued a statement that some paragraphs mentioning the presence of businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low at a meeting of the 1MDB board of directors were removed from the report.

She also said another change made was on the financial status of 1MDB.

Dr Madinah said the directive to make the changes came from Tan Sri Shukry Salleh, the former principal private secretary of then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Feb 26, 2016.

Dr Madinah said she briefed the Cabinet last week on the amendments to the 1MDB final audit report that was finalised and presented to the PAC on March 4, 2016.

Ambrin and Dr Madinah are scheduled to appear before the current PAC on Dec 4 and Dec 5 respectively, after the committee decided to look into allegations that the 2016 Auditor-General’s report on 1MDB was tampered with.

The AG’s Chambers is of the view that there is no legal barrier for the PAC to carry on its proceedings. Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee