Public Accounts Committee chief Hasan Arifin is trying to cover up for 1MDB by imposing a gag order on Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua from speaking on the issue, PKR’s Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli says.

The order is absurd, indefensible and clearly politically-motivated, Rafizi said

"If the government wants to cover up or stop the 1MDB proceedings at the PAC level, I advise the chairperson not to do it openly.

"Pandai-pandai lah, sikit (Be a little smart). When you do it like this, people will see how BN is using the PAC to cover up for 1MDB," Rafizi told a press conference in the Parliament lobby today.

Earlier today, Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia ruled that Pua must either quit the PAC or abstain from the 1MDB probe if he wants to debate 1MDB boss Arul Kanda Kandasamy.

Hasan took this to mean that the DAP lawmaker can no longer make public statements on 1MDB.

Rafizi, however, contended that there is no Standing Order preventing an MP or a PAC member from talking about any issue in public, with due consideration to rules preventing PAC testimonies from being made public before they are tabled in the House.

"I think Pua has shown good discipline, with no allegations by the PAC that he used the committee's information for outside purposes," the Pandan MP said.

He added that Pandikar's ruling can be debated further to determine whether a PAC member can debate on matters being investigated by the committee.