PAC wants to summon former 1MDB CEO again

PAC member William Leong says Shahrol Halmi is of particular interest because all 1MBD's debts stemmed from the time when he was heading the investment company.

KUALA LUMPUR: Some members of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) want former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) CEO Shahrol Halmi to be summoned once again, said the committee’s member William Leong.

Speaking to reporters, Leong who is also MP for Selayang, said Shahrol was of particular interest because all 1MBD’s debts stemmed from the time when he was heading the investment company.

“We asked the PAC Chairman Hasan Arifin to call those responsible when the debt was accumulated.

“So the session with (current 1MDB CEO) Arul (Kanda Kandasamy) is over, we will call others, directors and chairman who were there when they (1MDB) were in debt,” Leong told reporters outside Parliament building here today.

Earlier in the day, the company’s current CEO gave his second statement to the PAC, presenting them with the rationalisation plan on how 1MDB would dispose of its assets to pay off remaining debt. Arul, who joined 1MDB earlier this year, met with the PAC for the first time on December 1 but was recalled as the information he gave them then was deemed incomplete.

Another PAC member, Tony Pua however said there was no date set yet to meet with Shahrol, as the committee had only set the dates of January 19 and 20 for former 1MDB Chairman Mohd Bakke Salleh and current Chairman Lodin Wok Kamaruddin to give their statements.

He explained that some members had asked for Shahrol to be summoned again but that the ultimate decision was left to the PAC’s chairman.

“Some (PAC) members asked for Shahrol to be called again but Hasan has yet to confirm the dates and whether or not he (Shahrol) will be called again,” Pua said.

Pua, who is MP for Petaling Jaya Utara, also said the final audit report that was supposed to be tabled to the committee yesterday, would likely be presented in February next year.

“We were informed that they (auditor-general) just received new documents from 1MDB and there are documents that are yet to submitted for the final audit report.

“The audit report is not complete yet and we expect it will be done in February. That’s what we have been informed.”

When asked about details of the proceedings between Arul and the PAC this morning, Pua said he personally felt dissatisfied with the answers given. Arul was accompanied by his lawyer the entire time.

1MDB has been at the centre of controversy over the past year for allegations of corruption, compounded by relentless criticism by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who has attacked the company and its chief advisor, Prime Minister Najib Razak over the firm’s debt.