'Cari makan' remark: PAC won't hold anymore press conferences

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will not be holding anymore press conferences following the backlash it received over its chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin's cari makan remark.

In a statement today, Hasan said he was disappointed that his efforts to foster a friendly environment with the media were not appreciated by some.

He said he had strictly told reporters not to publish the remark, which he had meant as a joke.

"So, from Nov 23, the PAC will not be holding any press conferences anymore," he said.

Any information from the PAC will only be passed through official statements, he added.

Yesterday, Hasan had made the cari makan remark when commenting on questions on whether the PAC will be calling up Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in its probe into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

However, he had said the remark was a joke and requested the media not to report it.

He had also said the issue of RM2.6 billion donation deposited into Najib's account was not related to the 1MDB investigation and stressed that the public must be clearly informed of the difference.

He said the PAC's view was based on an interim report by the Auditor-General on 1MDB.