DAP’s Lim Kit Siang wants to know who had approved 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy and former CEO Datuk Shahrul Ibrahim Halmi skipping the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing scheduled today.

He said since the Finance Ministry has written to the PAC informing of the duo’s absence from the hearing, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak or the second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Muhd Hanadzlah must answer.

“Who approved their ponteng day,” he asked in a statement today.

“Did Najib as Prime Minister or Finance Minister have knowledge that the duo would play truant from the PAC hearing scheduled today, and did he, if not who, gave the ‘green-light” for the duo to play truant from the PAC hearing today?,” he questioned.

Shahrul Ibrahim was 1MDB’s first CEO from February 2009 until March 2013, while Arul Kanda was appointed in January this year.


READ: 1MDB: PAC to start probe on May 19


“Have Arul and Sharom good reasons for playing truant from the scheduled PAC hearing on the 1MDB scandal today, when the duo had been given more than two weeks’ notice of the hearing?,” Lim questioned in a statement today.

He also questioned why wasn’t the PAC informed immediately if the duo could not attend the hearing as they had received the PAC requisition on May 6.

The PAC was only informed via a letter from the Finance Ministry on May 22 that the duo could not attend as they had overseas appointment.


READ: PAC postpones session with 1MDB CEOs


The Gelang Patah member of Parliament also demanded to know where were the duo now and what were the overseas appointments.

“Couldn’t these overseas appointments be rescheduled to give priority to their appearance before the PAC,” he questioned.

“One would have thought that Najib, and in particular, the 1MDB Board, would have welcomed the PAC scheduled hearing today to put to rest all doubts and queries about integrity, transparency and good corporate governance which had been haunting the government,” he said.

He said all eyes will be on the Cabinet meeting on Friday and to whether the ministers are prepared to accept collective responsibility for the 1MDB scandal – and if the 1MDB Board would be sacked.

Yesterday, PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the duo were given one month's extension and promised that the postponement did not mean that the investigation proceedings on 1MDB will be delayed.


READ:1MDB: All Cabinet members should bear responsibility - Ku Li

READ: It's a crime to lie about 1MDB funds in Singapore bank - Tun M


1MDB had been under the spotlight over the last few months after various quarters had alleged mismanagement of funds and poor investments by the government-owned strategic development company.