Guan Eng: No one above the law on 1MDB

The government must take proactive steps to ensure that the PAC begins its probe on 1MDB immediately.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng has been left wondering whether the authorities concerned would brave themselves to arrest anyone, regardless of their position in government, for alleged wrongdoing at 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

“Do you dare to take action against Jho Low or anyone with even a higher position than him?” asked Guan Eng, also Penang Chief Minister and Air Puteh assemblyman, in Parliament which began its current session on Monday.

Guan Eng raised the question after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Pengerang MP Azalina Othman tabled a motion to put forward Rompin MP Hasan Ariffin as the new head of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The motion was passed. Guan Eng’s query was related to the fact that Hasan would have to resume the PAC’s work, which had earlier been interrupted, on 1MDB.

The government, stressed the Bagan MP, must take proactive steps to ensure that the PAC begins its probe on 1MDB immediately. “This scandal has gone international.”

“The rakyat too think that the government was taking the matter lightly and covering up the issue. It must be resolved quickly.”

He pledged that the Opposition wants to ensure that the country’s financial resources were not “stolen or robbed”.

In related comments, Guan Eng expressed unhappiness with Hasan being appointed as the new PAC Chairman since he was not from the Opposition. He urged that the PAC hearings be public as in the majority of Commonwealth countries. “I don’t see any reason why PAC hearings cannot be public,” he said. “The public can attend.”

“Whenever there are any private (confidential) matters to be raised, the hearings can be closed.”