YOURSAY | ‘Hasan, need you be reminded of the saying that justice hurried is justice buried?’

More witnesses will delay 1MDB probe report, says PAC chief

Res Ipsa: Dear Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chief Hasan Arifin, need you be reminded of the celebrated saying that justice hurried is justice buried?

You would appreciate that the delay in the PAC hearing was primarily due to the action of PM Najib Razak in paralysing the ongoing proceedings during the tenure of Nur Jazlan Mohamed as the chairperson.

So what is the reason to conclude the proceedings when there are a few key witnesses who have yet to testify. Don't you think the main player in the whole episode, our PM himself, should be hauled up for questioning?

Are you really serious in establishing the truth or is this just another ‘wayang kulit’ show geared towards the protection of that man?

The fact that you were parachuted into the position of PAC chief by Najib seems to give rise to that irresistible conclusion. This being further fortified by your utterance about the need to ‘ cari makan ’.

Our attorney-general is already having ‘Swiss’ nightmares over his premature decision to order closure to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) cases. Do you really need to get yourself into the same boat?

Slumdog: “As for the matter of the 1MDB probe by Bank Negara, Hasan said the issue has been explained by the company in the media, and the response by the attorney-general has been recorded by the press.”

Wow, such investigative skills - accept what is reported in the media as evidence of no wrongdoing. This is why I am finding it difficult to reconcile the words ‘objective’, ‘transparent’ and ‘fair conclusion’ when it comes from someone of Hasan’s pedigree.

So, is Hasan saying that it is better to do a half-baked, dodgy and incomplete investigation than spend more time doing one that is thorough?

Vijay47: Hasan, are you serious? Press reports on Malaysia's biggest financial scandal are sufficient and you mean you don't need to hear it from the donkey's mouth? This is surely another milestone in Malaysian investigations.

Incredibly, you go on to say that the 1MDB CEO's testimony is not necessary as it has already been given by someone else.

And the evidence from Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, also not needed? Yeah, sure, since she holds such a minor position in Bank Negara.

You have been so-called probing this issue since May 2015 and can't spare a further one week? Wow! Your commitment to deadlines is awesome. Somebody, please, wake me up.

Citizen No.26: If the key witnesses or suspects are not hauled up for questioning and verification of earlier statements made by other witnesses, then the public (both local and international) can only conclude that the PAC investigation is flawed, incomplete and a deliberate act of covering up by Hasan.

Ipohcrite: From the look of things, Hasan appears to be in a hurry to do an Apandi Ali on the 1MDB probe.

Again, while we are outraged, we are not in the least surprised by his antics and his copy-cat modus operandi.

As far as the rakyat are concerned, he has studiously avoided calling key witnesses like Jho Low and Najib, as we believe he is mindful of the need to "cari makan".

Justine Gow: It seems to me that what he is really concerned is not finding the truth but that calling more witnesses will delay his report that will clear the ‘zero credibility’ man.

He is apparently fearful that the truth will be more clearly revealed if more witnesses are called.

Saya Pun Nak Cari Makan: What is that little extra if it could help to accomplish what you set to do in beginning?

If it means going on for a few extra weeks to get those key witnesses like Najib and Jho Low to testify, the people are willing to wait, for, after all, this issue has been dragging on for months and a further delay makes no difference.

Hasan's remark implied that those all-important witnesses would not be called to testify. Is he going to do another Apandi here? It looks like it.

Hasan, Allah put you as the head of PAC with a purpose - to identify the crooks. If, at the end of the day, you still cannot get them, which is not possible in view of overwhelming evidence, you are not only failing the people, but, as a Muslim, most importantly Allah.

FairMind: We all know you have already concluded your findings the first day you were appointed to PAC.

How can an investigation ever be an investigation if it did not call upon the main suspect, the employees of the suspect's companies and the other investigation bodies like Bank Negara and MACC to get their feedback?

But we all know that is not going to happen. It is the first time in the world I have heard a chairperson concluding his findings for such an important investigation based on media reports.

Then again, which newspaper and media did you read? Are you afraid if you prolong your investigation more evidence will come out in the media?

Anon888: Hasan, if you are truly a patriotic Malaysian, which of the following two matters is more important to our country?

1) The need to end the proceedings involving 1MDB scandal as soon as possible, or,

2) The need to find out the truth of who are the real culprits responsible for the RM42 billion and 1MDB scandal as well as the reasons for RM42 million belonging to SRC ending up in the PM’s personal accounts without his knowledge (as claimed by him) when he is the sole approving authority for such matters.

Please do not try to treat all Malaysians as fools.

Hplooi: Mister PAC, from proceedings in the Singapore court, Jho Low and his gang are fingered in the transactions pertaining to 'personal account'. The documented affidavits prove the lie in the assertion that Low was not involved in 1MDB.

These documents have been lodged with a court, which is recognised as competent in Commonwealth countries.

Patriot1: What kind of a PAC chief are we having? His job is to ensure that the 1MDB report should be fair and accurate and not rush the thing through pulling wool over the public's eyes.

The AG had rushed to close the case on 1MDB and I think the PAC chief is also doing the same thing.

If new witnesses shed new light on the case and delays the report, then so be it. PAC owes it to the public to come up with a true and fair report.

Kangkung 1M: The affidavits and documents provided by Jho Low's personal banker Yak Yew Chee add to the mounds of evidence confirming that Low was, to the contrary. a linchpin in 1MDB’s various ‘investment’ operations.

Moreover, they are particularly hard to deny. After all, in a statement which Yak drew up in collaboration with his own BSI Bank bosses, Yak has acknowledged that he was the relationship manager for Low and 1MDB Global and its subsidiary Brazen Sky, as well as what is believed to be the bogus Aabar Investments PJS Limited, based in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

This statement further describes Low, these companies and “their affiliates”, as all being “closely linked” in “a matrix of relationships”, which is very different to Low’s denial that he had any continuing links with 1MDB:

Thana55: Hasan, I can also tell you that when the time comes (and it will come soon), you will be held responsible for dereliction of the sacred duties bestowed on you by the rakyat.

And we will set up a museum to always remember the infamous Malaysians who have sold their values and ethics purely for greed. You will be included.

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