1Malaysia Development Berhad president and executive director Arul Kanda and former CEO Shahrol Halmi's decision not to attend the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting tomorrow is an insult, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli ( photo ) said.

He said Arul should be sacked immediately for this.

"This is ridiculous. It was bad enough in the past when they didn't openly come out to clarify and set the facts straight.

"But now their refuse to attend the PAC meeting […] that is the final insult and (Arul) should be sacked immediately," he told reporters outside Parliament today.

"In any other parliament in the world, when the highest committee like a PAC summons you, because your actions have public impact, they would have to attend.

"It is okay if they come and fumble or say 'I can't answer that.' It is fine but have some respect for Parliament and the PAC," Rafizi added.

Notice given three weeks ago

DAP lawmaker and PAC member Tony Pua chided the two for not showing up despite being given ample notice.

“These jokers claimed to be overseas these two days despite having been given the notice to attend some three weeks ago,” he tweeted.

Rafizi speculated the duo may have decided not to attend tomorrow's hearing on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's instruction.

"The leadership, meaning Najib ( photo ), doesn't want them to come.

"Because once you put them in the firing line of PAC, there is a fear they cannot manage the questioning and more worms will come out of the can.

"That's why Najib takes this risk of not allowing them to come at all despite the public anger," he said.

However, Rafizi said even if this is true, if Arul and Shahrol had integrity, they should still turn up tomorrow.

"In fact, they should have actually taken a public role in explaining and defending 1MDB and not just leave it to Najib [...] (they) can't just say 'I have nothing to do with it'," he said.

The PAC is currently probing 1MDB's accounts to investigate if there were improprieties that led to its massive debts.

The probe commenced on May 19. The committee had so far questioned Treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah and Economic Planning Unit director-general Rahamat Bivi Abdullah.

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