No 1MDB talk from Tony Pua even in Parliament, PAC chief says

(Malay Mail Online) – DAP’s Tony Pua cannot make statements on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) both inside and outside the Parliament, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chief Datuk Hasan Arifin said today.

Hasan maintained that Pua is not able to make any 1MDB statement even though a ruling earlier this week by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia did not expressly prohibit the lawmaker from doing so.

“No, it’s clear from the Speaker’s ruling. He can’t speak about it (1MDB) even if it is in the Parliament,” Hasan told reporters when met outside the Parliament lobby.

He also claimed that the Speaker’s ruling follows worldwide parliamentary conventions, citing the Australian Parliament as one example, the same that Pandikar used when making his decision yesterday.

Additionally, Hasan also said it would be difficult for Pua to talk about 1MDB while still being a member of the PAC with the probe still ongoing.

“It is very difficult to differentiate between what he (Pua) says (based on public knowledge and what he says based on PAC meetings).

“Anyhow as PAC chairman I will follow whatever ruling by the Speaker,” he said.

On Tuesday, Pandikar said he would not allow the debate on 1MDB as it is still the subject of an ongoing probe by the House’s PAC.

He said Pua can only take part in the debate if he were to either resign as a member of the PAC or excuse himself from any and all proceedings involving the state-owned firm.

However, the Speaker conceded that he had no power to impose any order on non-PAC members, which includes 1MDB president Arul Kanda Kandasamy.