Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Tony Pua walked out from the committee’s meeting today after his proposal for investigations into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) to be re-opened was rejected by PAC chairperson Hasan Arifin.

The Petaling Jaya Utara lawmaker said he had first urged Hasan to allow for the investigations to be re-opened in light of lawsuits filed by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).

“We need to re-open (the case) based on the latest, major development. It’s not a minor development and therefore we have to summon the prime minister himself to answer to the PAC,” Pua told reporters outside the gates of Parliament today.

Pua said he had also urged that the investigations cover SRC International as well, since the company was found to have borrowed RM4 billion from the Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP).

“Why have we not investigated SRC International when it is clear now, with mounting evidence, that money from SRC International also went into the prime minister’s account.

“Because of that, after they refused to explain, as well as refused to call SRC International and Najib (Abdul Razak), I decided I had to leave the meeting.

“I cannot continue sitting in such a meeting, pretending that we are doing our work when the biggest scandal that has hit Malaysia (and yet) the PAC has refused to investigate,” he said.

The meeting chaired by Hasan continued after Pua left.

In a statement later, Hasan said there is no need to reopen investigations because the existing PAC report is comprehensive and has been agreed upon by all PAC member prior to being tabled in Parliament.

“Moreover, the issues tabled by the PAC in the 1MDB report were also picked up by the local and foreign media.

“The conclusions of the PAC report are clear that the relevant enforcement agencies need to take stern action against the 1MDB management responsible,” he said.

Meanwhile, asked whether other PAC members had followed suit by leaving the meeting, Pua said he was not in the know whether the rest had left the meeting or otherwise, but confirmed that he was the first one to walk out.

‘Meeting may end as early as today’

The meeting, called to discussed three issues, is scheduled to end on Wednesday. But Pua said the meeting might even end as early as today.

However, he said, he would not attend the PAC meeting if it continued tomorrow.

Pua also called on the prime minister to bring forth evidence to the PAC and said Najib should let the committee come to his defence if the evidence is indeed solid.

Stressing that the PAC was empowered to summon anyone for information and evidence, Pua questioned why the committee was so “scared” to call the prime minister.

Hasan (photo), had previously cleared Najib of wrongdoing and the prime minister himself has said he was innocent, based on the PAC report.

“But since there’s new evidence, let him (Najib) come and prove whether he is guilty or otherwise.

“The chairperson and the prime minister have abused the PAC report to say that he is innocent when in actual fact he was never investigated,” said Pua.

Pua also confirmed that his proposals today were supported by two PAC members from the opposition - DAP’s Dr Tan Seng Giaw and PAS’ Takiyuddin Hassan - who were present at the meeting.

“Both of them supported the proposal, but it was rejected by the chairperson and another fellow BN member, Simpang Renggam (Gerakan’s Liang Teck Meng).

Pua alleged the Simpang Renggam lawmaker had said that the DOJ was speculating, therefore there was no need for the PAC to investigate based on speculation.

“And the chairperson agreed. He (Hasan) denied that he had hidden information from the PAC, he refused to agree to call Najib and he refused to open a case against SRC.

“I am ashamed, I’m deeply ashamed to be part of a PAC that is so weak, that is so intent on covering up for Najib,” Pua added.

He had earlier confirmed that he had asked Hasan to confirm a letter - exposed by The Wall Street Journal - which was purportedly from Bank Negara Malaysia confirming that Good Star Limited was owned by tycoon Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.

“(I had asked) whether the letter was authentic as the chairperson had hidden the letter from PAC members, and if the letter was indeed authentic, as it then shows how Bank Negara had written to all PAC members and not just to the chairperson.

“So the chairperson had illegally hidden the letter from us and if he doesn’t give a valid answer, it shows he only wants to cover up those behind the 1MDB scandal,” he said.

Asked what his next course of action would be since his proposals were rejected by Hasan, Pua said he believes that public pressure must be mounted on the PAC.

“It's sad that I’m a member of the PAC who cannot affect the decisions in the PAC.

“But I urge the people, and all NGOs and civil societies out there, to demand that the PAC re-opens the investigations and calls in Najib and also the SRC,” he added.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, Liang confirmed that the PAC meeting will continue tomorrow. However the Simpang Renggam MP declined to confirm whether the issues had indeed been raised by Pua, and that he and Hasan had rejected the proposal.

“Ask the chairperson, please. Let the chairperson answer,” he replied.

Malaysiakini has contacted Hasan and is awaiting his response.