Hasan will call for his first PAC meeting soon

Datuk Hasan Arifin who was today appointed as the new Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman, will call for its first meeting as soon as possible after the new select committee has been formed.

He said this was following changes in the representation of parties in the select committee.

"The select committee will convene and appoint members of the PAC, I understand, as a result of what has taken place in PAS, of members leaving the party. There will definitely be changes in the party representations in Parliament," he told a news conference at the Parliament lobby, here, today.

His appointment is valid after the majority in the Dewan Rakyat agreed to the motion of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in picking Hasan to replace Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed who had been appointed as Deputy Home Minister.

Hasan, who is also Rompin Member of Parliament, was confident he could carry out the tasks including solving national financial issues such as the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) issue.

He said priority would be given to the investigation on 1MDB and he would study the report submitted by the Auditor-General.

Hasan denied claims that the government was deliberately delaying the investigation into 1MDB, saying the appointment of the PAC could only be made after the approval of Parliament.

"The government and Members of Parliament from Barisan Nasional had also agreed to speed up the investigation," he said.

Asked on the suggestion by certain quarters that Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua be dropped from the PAC following his criticism against 1MDB, Hasan said the matter would also be discussed during the meeting.

"Will discuss about it. I cannot judge based on perceptions, even from BN people," he said.

Hasan was confident his experience as a two-term member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association committee, could be used as best as possible in his new post.

Asked if Nur Jazlan gave him advice on heading the PAC, in jest Hasan said, "I am not under pressure. I don't need any advice, even from Jazlan."