By ALIFAH ZAINUDDIN / Pic By BERNAMA

Ousted former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak and fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low are among 18 witnesses that will be summoned by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over inquiries related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

PAC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (picture), who was the former deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker, said testimonies from the two figures are crucial in helping the PAC conduct its investigation comprehensively.

He noted that Najib and Jho Low were not called up during the previous PAC term.

Former Auditor-General (A-G) Tan Sri Ambrin Buang will also be summoned to give his statement on the committee’s reinvestigation of 1MDB. Ambrin, who tabled the sovereign fund’s audit report on March 2016, is expected to testify on Oct 29.

Ronald said auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which was appointed by the Finance Ministry, would also be briefing the committee.

“The briefing from PwC is very important to PAC in ensuring the committee is aware of 1MDB’s current status, especially the fund’s financial position,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He said all PAC members have been briefed by the current A-G, Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad, on Aug 30 and Sept 4 with regard to the 1MDB report by the National Audit Department.

“The PAC has also acquired views and legal advice from the Attorney General’s Chambers which is an ex-officio member on the committee to restart investigations in 1MDB,” he said.

Kiandee said during a special meeting on Tuesday, the PAC outlined 10 Terms of Reference to be used as reference throughout the entire period of the 1MDB proceedings.

“This includes using two reports by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) that were published in 2016 and 2017,” he said.

During the last Parliamentary session in August, the Finance Ministry called for the A-G and PAC to reopen a probe into the 1MDB scandal.

The PAC, under the previous Barisan Nasional government, had cleared Najib of any involvement in the sovereign fund’s dealings in April 2016.

It also downplayed reinvestigations into the fund when new statements from the DoJ on 1MDB emerged.

Apart from 1MDB, the PAC is also investigating the RM19.4 billion tax credit under the Goods and Services Tax.

Najib, who was the former finance minister, is expected to face the PAC on Oct 17 to clarify the matter.

Current Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng will appear before the committee on Oct 22.

Former Treasury secretary general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, who was called up by the PAC in September last year, will be called up again on Oct 16.