PAC scolded Umno’s top lawyer over 1MDB

We are very much amused to read that the chairman of PAC, Datuk Nur Jazlan had criticised Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah over his comments regarding Tony Pua, a committee member of PAC yesterday. Shafee was reported as saying:

“I’ve noticed Pua, as a PAC member, has issued a lot of statements which can affect investigations into the company.

“As such, I propose that he withdraw himself from PAC to return the public’s confidence that the inquiry can be conducted fairly and transparently,” Shafee was reported saying.

“PAC members including Pua should be like judges in this case, and not by making accusations and making public statements. It is better they be witnesses if they want to issue such statements.”

Tony Pua is no stranger in questioning 1MDB for its dubious deals but Nur Jazlan however was quick to defend his colleague:

“He doesn’t have the right to tell off PAC members who are members of the legislature, the third branch of the government and elected by the people.”

“I personally think he has helped to highlight the issue on 1MDB which the majority of Malaysians today believe the PAC will dismiss in favour of the government. We are working well as a team.”

“Pua performs a dual role as a MP for PJU and a PAC member. And as far as I am concerned he has not used any information obtained from PAC hearings on 1MDB in his statements.”

“Whatever information he uses in his statements are obtained from parliamentary answers and other sources”.

Basically Nur Jazlan is telling all the fanatical supporters of 1MDB not to poke their noses into PAC’s business in investigating 1MDB. Not only that, he thinks Tony Pua is a great help in highlighting important matters to the public in regards to 1MDB.

Shafee, who received a lot of flak for his involvement in the disastrous ‘Liwat Roadshow’ last February, seemed to think that only Tony Pua is the biased individual. Which is not true.

Tun Mahathir Mohamad gave another insight when he was asked about Shafee’s nosy outburst. He quipped:

“They said Tony Pua is biased, that he is one-sided. But the others are biased too, they are on Umno’s side. So they are all considered biased. So in the end you, you might as well not have (PAC).”

For the record, the members of PAC are:

1. (Chairman) Datuk Nur Jazlan from UMNO

2. (Vice Chairman) Dr Tan Seng Giaw from DAP

3. Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican bin Naina Merican from UMNO

4. Dato’ Abd Aziz bin Sheikh Fadzir from UMNO

5. Datuk Mas Ermieyati binti Samsudin from UMNO

6. Datuk Liang Teck Meng from GERAKAN

7. Datuk Madius Tangau from UPKO (BN)

8. Tuan Haji Hasbi bin Habibollah from PBB (BN)

9. Datuk Wee Jeck Seng from MCA

10. Dato’ Kamarul Baharin bin Abbas from PKR

11. Tuan William Leong Jee Ken from PKR

12. Dato’ Haji Kamarudin bin Jaffar from PAS

13. Tuan Tony Pua Kiam Wee from DAP

Tun Dr Mahathir is wise enough to lend the bigger perspective on the fairness and transparency of the PAC. How confident are we to have a PAC Chairman or members from UMNO sitting in that body when their political career is dependent and beholden to the President of Umno?

How confident are we to have faith in them when their candidacy as member of parliament (and perks) for the next general election is determined by the President of Umno?

And who is the President of Umno? He is also the top boss and advisor of 1MDB!

The conflict of interest is too obvious.

We must be fools to think that these PAC members will, without fear or favour investigate thoroughly their own President while he is controlling their political careers.

That is why, Tun Mahathir had suggested way back in April that this 1MDB fiasco should be investigated by a totally independent commission.

“Berani kerana benar, takut kerana salah”

Trying to outdo each other on who is the better yes-man.

After all, an RCI was created in order to investigate the RM12.5 billion PKFZ fiasco. Another RCI was created just to investigate VK Lingam’s “correct, correct, correct” video clip.

But the scandalous RM42 billion 1MDB which triggered a debt crisis is only being investigated by the Umno President’s own underlings? From the start, PAC was even dictated by 1MDB’s bosses on which date they could be interviewed. This flippancy and the charade of it all is too glaring.

The voters are not stupid.

The powers that be can dumb down the brainless 1MDB fans, but not the people who can think for themselves.

Happy Friday everyone.

You might also want to read:

1) Exposing 1MDB’s propaganda

2) Malaysia’s biggest embarrassment

3) Why auditors can’t guarantee there was no fraud at 1MDB