Kiandee to be first Opposition PAC chief?

Umno rep suggested after post ‘offered’ to Zahid

PETALING JAYA: Former deputy speaker Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (pic) has been proposed as the nation’s first Opposition lawmaker to chair Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is responsible for scrutinising the Government’s finances.

This comes after the Government initially “offered” Opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi the post, to which the Bagan Datuk MP said he would consult with his colleagues.

The Order Paper for tomorrow’s proceedings shows that the motion will be tabled by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

However, it is understood that the motion can only be tabled on Tuesday as ministers are still replying to the points raised by lawmakers during the motion of thanks on the royal address.

Kiandee, who is Beluran

MP, is a five-term Umno lawmaker from Sabah. He holds a PhD in political sociology from Universiti Sains Malaysia.

The Order Paper also mentions first-term Ipoh Timur DAP lawmaker Wong Kah Woh as the deputy PAC chairman.

Wong, the DAP Socialist Youth chairman, is a lawyer who graduated from the International Islamic University Malaysia.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said only a lawmaker from the Opposition can be PAC chairman, as stated in Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto.

The Order Paper also mentions a motion to appoint a Selection Committee comprising a chairman and six other lawmakers that will be chosen by the House.

The motion has proposed Datuk Muhamad Ariff Md Yusof, who is the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, as the chairman while the members include Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Pandan), Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Pagoh), Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu (Kota Raja), International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking (Penampang), Tan Kok Wai (Cheras) and Dr Ahmad Zahid.

The committee is appointed at the beginning of every Parliament session to carry out functions allotted to it by the House’s Standing Order and may be referred to from time to time on other matters.