Kinabatangan MP Bung Mokhtar ( photo ) is flabbergasted as to why 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) president Arul Kanda and former CEO Shahrol Halmil did not turn up for a Public Accounts Committee hearing that was supposed to be held today on the beleaguered government agency.

Speaking to rep orters outside Parliament, he said their absence didn't make any sense.

"Tak masuk akal (this doesn't make sense). They are the persons who are responsible (for 1MDB).

"They should tell the people what is going on in 1MDB. The PAC should summon them to come (immediately)," he said.

Yesterday, it was revealed that Arul and Shahrol had asked for a 30-day extension on their PAC summons, saying they were both working overseas at the moment.

He was referring to 1MDB president Arul Kanda and former chief executive officer Shahrol Halmi's abrupt request for a 30-day extension before testifying to the PAC, citing important overseas appointments.

The duo only made the request four days before the hearing despite receiving two-weeks notice from the PAC.

They asked for a postponement to prepare the information and documents that PAC requested.

Auditors to be called first

PAC chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed yesterday said the committee has yet to decide on when to call Arul and Shahrol for its hearing, including whether or not to grant the full 30 days requested.

"That (time period) is what they asked for, but we still want them to come. It is up to us whether or not to grant the 30 days," he told a press conference today.

The PAC probe commenced on May 19.

The committee has so far questioned Treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah and Economic Planning Unit director-general Rahamat Bivi Yusoff. Irwan is also a 1MDB advisory board member.

Nur Jazlan ( photo ) said while PAC waits to question Arul and Shahrol, it would start writing letters to call in 1MDB's current and former auditors to the hearing in a few days, with hope to hear their testimonies in two to three weeks.

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