I have no power to remove Pua, admits PAC chief

PAC chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin says he has no power to remove DAP lawmaker Tony Pua from the bipartisan panel. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Kamal Ariffin, October 20, 2015.

New Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin today said he had "no power" to remove DAP lawmaker Tony Pua from the committee.

Arifin yesterday said the committee would discuss Pua's seat on the bipartisan panel when it resumed its meetings.

But at a press conference at the Parliament lobby today, Arifin said that the committee would discuss the ethics and conduct of PAC members in general.

"I have no power to determine his membership in the committee. That is up to the select committee."

However, Arifin said that the conduct of PAC members needed to be discussed.

This came following allegations by several Barisan Nasional lawmakers that Pua had abused his position in PAC by making public statements about 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), which the panel was investigating.

Pua had been accused of conflict of interest due to his critical statements against 1MDB and because he was also a police witness in investigations into 1MDB.

The DAP MP, however, had said he never used confidential information given to PAC in his public statements about 1MDB.

- TMI