The Public Accounts Committee should charge 1Malaysia Development Bhd president Arul Kanda and its former chief executive Shahrol Halmi with contempt and fine them for not appearing before it, an opposition MP is demanding.

If the duo fail to pay the fines, they should be arrested, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said, adding: "PAC should take action against 1MDB for this insult against Parliament.

"The PAC should use the Members of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act to fine both individuals involved RM1,000 each day, or arrest them until they appear before the committee."

Lim ( photo ) made the call at a press conference at the Parliament lobby today, citing Section 9 of the Act, which allows Parliament to punish contempt against it with a maximum RM1,000 fine, and detain those who do not pay the fines, as his grounds.

"If PAC doesn't (take action), it will be yet another toothless tiger," the DAP lawmaker added.

Why do they need a 30-day extension?

Arul and Shahrol have asked for a 30-day extension before testifying before the PAC, citing important overseas appointments.

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

This puzzled Lim, who quoted Arul as saying that he "welcomed the PAC probe".

"This sounds like he is inviting the PAC (to investigate them) and will lay down a red carpet to the 1MDB office," Lim said.

"But that is not what happened… if they are so excited to tell their side of the story, why do they need a 30-day time period?" he asked.

The PAC is investigating 1MDB to find out if there was any mismanagement that led to the sovereign wealth fund's massive debt of RM42 billion.

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