Listen, stop talking about 1MDB, Pua told

(The Malaysian Times) – Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin has ordered PAC member Tony Pua to comply with the directive of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia against issuing any statements on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) via any medium.

Hasan said Pua must obey the directive including not openly debating with the President and Group Executive Director of 1MDB, Arul Kanda Kandasamy.

“I abide by the directive fixed by the Speaker. This means Tony Pua also cannot talk about 1MDB outside (the Dewan Rakyat) such as campaigning and others.

“We hope the members of PAC comply with the ruling and advice given by the Speaker,” he told reporters at Parliament’s lobby today.

Asked whether Pua was also not allowed to issue statements to the media on 1MDB issues, Hasan said he would seek further clarification from the office of the Dewan Rakyat Speaker on this.

“According to the ruling, Tony Pua cannot give ‘ceramah’ or talks about (1MDB) in public. It is rather difficult as the PAC’s interim report on its 1mDB probe is already out, thus it is only apt for all ethical matters to be complied with,” he said.

At the Dewan Rakyat this morning, Pandikar Amin ruled that Tony Pua must step down as a member of Public Account Committee (PAC) if he wants to continue with the open debate with 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) President Arul Kanda Kandasamy.

He said if the Petaling Jaya Utara Member of Parliament did not want to relinquish his post in the PAC, he must not be involved at all with the probe on 1MDB which was being conducted by the Committee.

At the same time, Arul Kanda, who is main witness, should also not be involved in the investigation of PAC, said Pandikar Amin.

Meanwhile, Pua, when asked to comment on the ruling by Pandikar Amin, was adamant that the organisation of the open debate did not flout any Standing Order of the Dewan Rakyat.

“From my knowledge, the organisation of the debate does not flout any Parliament regulations.

“Nevertheless, I respect the decision of the Dewan Rakyat Speaker. For that reason, I will seek an official explanation in the Dewan tomorrow,” he told a media conference at Parliament’s lobby.

Pua said he would not allow proceedings on 1MDB to be disturbed because of his involvement in the open debate.

“I cannot allow the investigation to be abandoned. The people place their hope on PAC for the investigation,” he added.