'PAC hearings on 1MDB cannot be delayed'

KUALA LUMPUR: The meetings of the Public Accounts Commitee (PAC) cannot be delayed any further because the people want answers with regards to the ongoing probe into 1Malaysia Development Berhad, said Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua.
Describing Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia's statement as a matter of interpretation, Pua said Standing Order 77(3) states that any PAC member can be nominated to chair the committee meeting, when a chairman is unable to attend.
Pandikar was reported as saying yesterday that the PAC hearings cannot resume until a new chairman is elected in October, and it is better for the remaining PAC members to wait to avoid disputes on the validity of the proceedings.
"Unable to attend or being absent from the meeting could be for any reason. It does not specify that the meeting cannot continue when its members are appointed as deputy ministers.
"We did not receive any formal letters from any officials regarding the suspension of the hearing," Pua said during a press conference today, adding that the PAC meetings will continue as scheduled.
Meanwhile, DAP parliamentary leader, Lim Kit Siang said he disagreed with newly appointed Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali's statement that his predessor's removal was done in a lawful manner.
"The new AG, has said that Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail's termination as AG was in line with the Federal Constitution and that his rank was not reduced in any way," he said, questioning the reason for Gani's abrupt removal only two months before his mandatory retirement at the age of 60.