Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed has come under heavy fire for postponing the hearing into 1MDB from August to October.

"Are you kidding me? How can you adjourn the hearing for three months just because you members have been promoted to minister and deputy ministers?" PAC vice-chairperson Tan Seng Giaw said in a blasting response.

Compared with 1MDB, which is an issue of national interest, he said the appointment given to Nur Jazlan and three other members of the PAC by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was a non-issue.

"Are you (Nur Jazlan, photo ) saying that being promoted as deputy ministers supersedes a crucial national issue such as the 1MDB?" asked Tan, who is the MP for Kepong.

As such, it is untenable to have the hearing postponed, he told Malaysiakini .

The other PAC members given deputy minister appointments are Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, while Wilfred Madius Tangau has been given a full minister appointment.

Nur Jazlan has accepted the officer to be deputy home minister and has said he would relinquish his position as PAC chief, and went on to announce that the committee's hearings into 1MDB in August would be postponed.

Cabinet reshuffle used to stop 1MDB probe

PAC was scheduled to hear evidence from 1MDB president Arul Kanda and former 1MDB CEOs Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi and Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman next week.

Then, in mid-August, PAC was supposed to interview two 1MDB directors - Mohd Bakke Salleh and Azlan Mohd Zainol - who resigned from 1MDB in 2009.

PAC has also summoned business tycoon Jho Low for its hearing, through the Finance Ministry.

"Is the cabinet reshuffle a tactic used to stop the 1MDB investigation?" Tan asked.

He said Section 77 of the Parliamentary Standing Orders clearly stipulates that the hearing can still be conducted without the presence of the PAC chairperson or vice-chairperson.

A new chairperson, he said, would be elected from the committee to preside over the hearing.

"The standing order states that a minimum of six members are needed to conduct a meeting.

"We have 12 members now and with four appointed into the cabinet, we still have the quorum to call for the hearing," Tan added.

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