PAC can't probe 1MDB just because of Dr M
MalaysiaKini.com
Oct 14, 2014

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said today it cannot initiate an investigation simply from the feedback of one person.

The PAC said this when asked whether it would take up former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s complaint about the financial status of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

"We cannot just respond to one person... as you can see, our schedule is packed," PAC chairperson Nur Jazlan Mohamed told a press conference in Parliament this afternoon.

When it was pointed out to him that even opposition parliamentarians have complained about 1MDB’s debt, Nu Jazlan replied: “That’s what people say.

"Just because somebody said something is wrong, it doesn’t mean something is wrong there."

Nonetheless, Nur Jazlan said, 1MDB is on the PAC’s radar but its immediate priority is looking at the Auditor-General’s Report.

"I have not made any assessment (about 1MDB) yet. So it's only what is being said in the media," he said.

Secret identities
 
In a separate matter, Nur Jazlan said the PAC will call the Road Transport Department (RTD) to explain its action of keeping secret the identities of selected individuals in the purchase of premium car registration numbers.
 
The RTD has kept secret the identities of purchasers for the car registration numbers BMW 1, BMW 2, BMW 7, BMW 9 and BMW10 to "avoid negative perception".

During the debate in the house later, Jeff Ooi (DAP-Jelutong) (right) questioned if Nur Jazlan had veto power in refusing to to investigate 1MDB.
 
However, Nur Jazlan stressed that PAC had not made any decision on 1MDB and whether it is investigated or not, depended on the consensus among committee members.
 
"The opposition can also ask their questions directly to the finance minister... I don't see what additional value we can contribute by investigating 1MDB as this has been discussed many times and 1MDB has also given information through the media," he said.
 
Nur Jazlan, when debating the budget speech, also proposed introducing perks for members of the PAC, complaining about the low turnout among committee members.
 
"The PAC have 14 members but sometimes only five or six turn up, sometimes even people on that side (opposition) are more than ours (BN).
 
"But I am fair, even if the opposition members are more I still chair the PAC meeting," he said.
 
He added that PAC members' responsibility are also increasing, thus extra allowances can aid them in their duties.

Copyright © 1999-2012 Mkini Dotcom Sdn. Bhd	
Sourcehttp: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/277563