Arul Kanda (pic) claimed earlier this week that 1MDB had only received the notice from the Finance Ministry on May 21, and that he had responded on the same day. ― File picKUALA LUMPUR, May 28 ― Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Tony Pua demanded today to know the exact whereabouts of 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) chief executive Arul Kanda Kandasamy and former CEO Datuk Shahrol Ibrahim Halmi when they were summoned to testify before the parliamentary panel.
The Petaling Jaya Utara MP said he also wants to know if the duo’s flight tickets were booked before or after the PAC’s notice was given, as well as the date of the meetings they were to attend abroad.
“I want 1MDB president Arul Kanda and the former CEO to tell us, if they are not twisting and turning, where were they on the 25th and 26th of May when PAC asked them to attend and what meeting were they having overseas such that they could not attend the PAC.
“These are questions that we will ask again when they come to see PAC on the date that will be fixed by the PAC chairman,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here.
Pua, who is also DAP national publicity secretary pointed out that the duo had claimed that they could not attend the PAC hearing because they had prior appointments overseas.
“We will ask, so get ready,” he warned.
PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed previously said that the PAC had sent a letter on May 6 to the Finance Ministry, requesting that the duo to appear before the committee on May 26.
Arul Kanda, however, claimed earlier this week that 1MDB had only received the notice from the Finance Ministry on May 21, and that he had responded on the same day.
The parliamentary bipartisan committee began its hearings on the matter on May 19, after deciding not to wait for an independent probe by the auditor-general.
