‘I am ready,’ new PAC chief says of appointment

(Malay Mail Online) – Datuk Hasan Arifin today said he is confident of bearing the responsibility of being the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) new chair, with his experience facing various challenges in his years as a politician.

The first-term Rompin MP said he is unfazed by the role – which includes overseeing the committee’s probe on state-owned 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) – as he has previously served as a deputy mentri besar and sits on the Supreme Council of Barisan Nasional lynchpin Umno.

“I am ready for this job. Yes, certainly. I have an economics background, I have no problem in handling this,” he said at a news conference at the Dewan Rakyat lobby today.

“There’s no pressure on me. I will carry out my duties as determined by the Parliament, it’s fine,” he added when asked if he felt added pressure given the scrutiny 1MDB is currently facing.

Hasan said he does not consider the appointment a “hot seat”, claiming that it was like any other appointment and that somebody “has got to take the responsibility”.

He added that he did not need any advice from the former PAC chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed on how to go about his duties.

Hasan was officially appointed the new PAC chief today, replacing Nur Jazlan who was appointed deputy home minister in a recent Cabinet reshuffle.

The PAC had been investigating 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) until Nur Jazlan and three other members were made part of the federal administration in July.

The committee’s inquiry was then suspended after Parliament Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia ruled that the committee could not proceed until a new chairman is appointed.

Hasan won the Rompin by-election in May, defeating PAS’ candidate, Nazri Ahmad, by a 8,895 vote majority.

The seat fell vacant after its then MP, Tan Sri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis died in a helicopter crash along with five others on April 4, in Semenyih, Selangor.