NAJIB TO TESTIFY BEFORE PARLIAMENT PANEL PAC OVER 1MDB, ‘ROBBED’ RM19 BILLION GST REFUNDS? ONCE SEEN AS THE MOST SHAMEFUL FATE, BY NOW NAJIB SHOULD BE USED TO IT AFTER HIS HISTORIC ARREST & CHARGING IN COURT

KUALA LUMPUR – The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will call up new witnesses in its investigations into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investment fund and did not discount the possibility that former premier Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak would be one of them.

Commenting on the motion filed by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng for the PAC and Auditor-General (AG) to re-initiate 1MDB investigations, PAC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said any future probe would be an extension of the previous investigation.

He said the PAC would first be briefed by the AG, Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad, on what information has been obtained from the previous investigation, before deciding its new scope.

“Definitely we will not be repeating what had been investigated before, or who they have called up so far. It (new probe) is an extension of that.

“(On Najib) it is too early to determine who will be called as we have to base our probe on the terms of reference. The matter will be decided soon,” he told a press conference after attending a meeting with Madinah and other members of the PAC in Parliament today.

Kiandee added that any findings from its investigation would also be presented to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, aside from the Parliament.

Under the previous administration, PAC had initiated a probe into 1MDB, with its findings published in April 2016, which concluded that Najib, the then prime minister, was not involved in any wrongdoing involving the company, and that the board of directors should be held accountable instead.

Kiandee said the committee has also agreed to initiate a probe on the allegation by the federal government that over RM18 billion was missing from a trust fund meant for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds. – Sundaily

No decision to summon Najib over 1MDB probe, says PAC chairman

KUALA LUMPUR – The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has yet to decide whether to call former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to assist its probe into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

PAC chairman Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee said it is too early to determine who should be called to assist the committee with its investigation.

“It all depends on the terms of reference that will be determined later, together with the investigation strategy.

“All will be revealed later,” he said during a press conference in Parliament today.

It was reported that Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng will table a motion in Dewan Rakyat to reinitiate parliamentary investigations into 1MDB.

The motion is expected to be tabled tomorrow (Aug 16).

Ronald said PAC will carry out an investigation into 1MDB if the motion was tabled and approved.

“PAC is under the Parliament, so PAC definitely has to carry out an investigation if it is approved by Parliament.

“If there is a motion to do so, we will do it,” he said.

Ronald added that PAC has been instructed to carry out an investigation into the Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund shortfall.

“We will also have to investigate the recent Auditor General’s Report.”

On a separate matter, Ronald said the opposition has found a replacement for Rompin MP Datuk Seri Hasan Arifin, who declined an offer to become a PAC member.

“A letter has been handed to the Speaker and Parit Sulong member of parliament Datuk Noraini Ahmad will take the position,” he said.

Earlier, the PAC team attended a briefing session with the National Audit Department.

Present was Auditor General Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad.

– NST