Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Nur Jazlan Mohamad has told Umno-linked lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah not to meddle in the committee's work.

Speaking to Malaysiakini , Nur Jazlan said Shafee has no right to call for Pua to resign from the committee for being too critical of 1MDB.

"He (Shafee) doesn't have the right to tell off PAC members who are members of the legislature, the third branch of the government and elected by the people," he said.

Nur Jazlan added that Pua had never used PAC information in his statements, and actually highlighted important matters regarding 1MDB.

"I personally think he has helped to highlight the issue on 1MDB, which the majority of Malaysians today believe PAC will dismiss the issue in favour of the government. We are working well as a team

"Pua performs dual role as a MP for PJ Utara and a PAC member. And as far as I am concerned he has not used any information obtained from PAC hearings from 1MDB in his statements.

"Whatever information he uses in his statements are obtained from parliamentary answers and other sources," he said.

This is not a court of law

Shafee had said that Pua's resignation would ensure the PAC investigation into 1MDB was fair.

"Pua as a PAC member issues too many statements that can affect the probe towards the company.

"As such I propose that he steps down from the PAC to restore public confidence, that the 1MDB inquiry is fair and transparent," Shafee is quoted as saying by Berita Harian .

"PAC members, including Pua, should act like judges in this case, and not make accusations and public statements about it. If they want to make statements like that, it is better to be a case witness," he added.

However, Nur Jazlan reminded Shafee that the PAC is not a court of law.

"The PAC is not a court of law created by statute, but it is a body that represents the voice of the country," he said, adding PAC can help clear negative public perceptions towards 1MDB, based on facts.

"Our main job is to gather information, get the testimonies of witnesses, analyse and determine facts from fiction and then come out with a report based on the facts of the case.

"Right now, I think the majority of Malaysians have already formed a perception that there is something wrong with 1MDB because the issue has been left to fester in the public domain for too long.

"The PAC can help to clear the negative perception by writing a good report that is based on the facts of the case," Nur Jazlan said.

Pua, who is Petaling Jaya Utara MP, has been an ardent critic of the debt-ridden investment firm, and frequently raises the topic in and out of Parliament.

Previously, 1MDB president Arul Kanda also reminded Pua that he is a member of PAC and expressed hope of getting a fair hearing.

This followed Pua's highly critical public remarks about 1MDB, including calling Arul a "liar extraordinaire".

Meanwhile, BN Backbenchers Club chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad called on Nur Jazlan to consider Shafee's remarks and to drop Pua from the investigation team.

Shahrir said since Pua knows a lot about 1MDB, he should be a witnesses instead of being part of the team investigating 1MDB.