PAC has no power to sack its members - Hasan

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has no power to sack any of its members, said newly minted PAC chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin.

As a member appointed by the Parliament, Hassan said all membership issues must be referred to the Parliament.

“We cannot simply sack anyone. Matters relating to that must be referred to the Parliament,” he said at a press conference held at the Parliament lobby today.

Hasan had called for the press conference today to explain his stand after DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang questioned his commitment in the probe into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Lim had also raised the question of whether Hassan can stay neutral following his statement yesterday that he will discuss about Tony Pua, a fellow PAC member, at the next PAC meeting.

Hasan said he had never spoke about Pua being sacked from the PAC.

“When asked, I simply answered. So, the position of Tony Pua will be discussed before any decision can be made,” he said.

Hasan was appointed as the PAC chairman yesterday after the majority in the Dewan Rakyat agreed to the motion of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in picking him to replace Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed who had been appointed as Deputy Home Minister.

Several quarters had suggested that Pua be dropped from the committee as he has been making public statements about the 1MDB, which the PAC is investigating.

But the Petaling Jaya Utara MP said he had never used confidential information given to the PAC in his statements.