Rompin MP named as new PAC chief

Rompin MP Datuk Hassan Arifin has been named chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 16, 2015.

Rompin MP Datuk Hasan Arifin has been named chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, replacing Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed who had been elevated to government.

According to the Order Paper seen by The Malaysian Insider, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will table a motion proposing the first-term MP’s name when Parliament reconvenes Monday.

“Datuk Hasan Arifin, the Rompin MP, appointed to replace Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, the Pulai MP, as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee for the 13th Parliament," read the Order Paper. 

MPs will vote on this, and Hasan is a sure bet for the post as Barisan Nasional commands a comfortable majority in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat.

Hasan, who only has been an MP for five months, will have a big task ahead of him as PAC was in the midst of investigating state investment arm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Proceedings were frozen as Nur Jazlan and three other members were appointed as minister and deputy ministers.

Hasan clinched the Rompin seat at the May by-election after former MP Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis died in a helicopter crash.

Hasan, 62, formerly served as Pahang’s deputy menteri besar between 1995 to 1999, and was a four-term state assemblyman in Pahang for the Tioman and Bukit Ibam state constituencies.

He is also seen as a close associate of Najib.

On the same day, Najib will also propose that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail be appointed to the select committee.

The trio will replace former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, former MIC president Datuk  Seri G. Palanivel – both of whom were dropped by Najib during the Cabinet reshuffle in late July – and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is currently in prison for sodomy.

- TMI