I deleted parts of 1MDB report, admits former PAC head

The former head of the PAC today said he deleted a few lines of the committee's report on 1MDB as he was told it was classified intelligence.

Hasan Arifin (BN - Rompin), who has remained silent on his committee's 1MDB report for more than two years, told the Dewan Rakyat that he made the call in 2016 to expunge the part about ownership of the Good Star Limited (GSL) after receiving a letter from the central bank.

According to him, Bank Negara had in their letter classified the information related to Good Star as intelligence.

Speaking when debating the government's motion to have PAC reopen its 1MDB probe, Hasan (above) said his decision was made to protect the integrity of the PAC.

"Since the information cannot be revealed to the public, I expunged the words and informed the PAC," he said.

He said Bank Negara could not confirm that Good Star, which is alleged to have received US$1 billion from 1MDB in September 2009, was owned by controversial business figure Jho Low.

Hasan's revelation drew flak from Tony Pua (Harapan-Damansara) who said Hasan could have notified the PAC members beforehand and that he had no respect for the other PAC members.

Hasan then said if he had revealed the central bank's letters to the PAC members, then it would be as though he had revealed the issues to the public.

Earlier, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said Hasan was guilty of concealing the information.

Hasan, however, challenged Lim to point out which country or agency could prove the ownership of Good Star Ltd.

He then threatened to refer Lim to the select committee to safeguard his (Hasan's) dignity.

In his winding up of the debate, Lim said compared with one's dignity, it is more important for the PAC to identify who caused the RM50 billion debt of 1MDB. -Mkini