KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 – 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) President and Executive Director Arul Kanda will have to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) again on Dec 18 to provide further details on the company’s affairs. PAC Chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin said there were several matters, pertaining to the company, that had yet to be resolved and Arul had to be summoned again to explain.
“We had to adjourn it to Dec 18 as the evidence is not complete yet. We are satisfied (with the explanations), but we need more details, not necessarily related to the setting up of the company,” he said at a terse press conference after the proceeding ended at about 5pm on Tuesday.
“That’s why we’re calling Arul back. Yes, it’s only him… what percentage of this proceeding is finished? It’s difficult to say at the moment. In the meantime, PAC was satisfied with the explanation given by Arul on the government strategic company’s affairs,” he said.
“Opposition members of Parliament, including him, who were in the committee, were also satisfied with Arul’s explanation. We are satisfied, but we’re calling him back to ask him to clarify on several other matters such as the company’s debt rationalisation plan,” PAC Deputy Chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw said.
“Various questions related to governance and what had been implemented by 1MDB since its inception until today were raised during the meeting. However, what I had said in the meeting cannot be discussed (in public). What is important is that we (1MDB) had given full cooperation to the PAC,” Arul told to reporters here yesterday.
“When we’re called, we welcome the opportunity to attend and to present our side of the story. The ability or opportunity given to us is something that we very much welcome. We managed to answer the questions today to the best of our ability. I have been invited to attend another session. And as committed previously and as I committing now, we will be there,” he added.
