Perak PAC unhappy with Zambry’s walkout
IPOH: The Perak Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is disappointed with former mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir’s decision to walk out before a public hearing could start in regards to the Mentri Besar Incorporated’s ( MB Inc) financial records.
PAC chairman Leong Cheok Keng said this was the first time in history that a PAC hearing was made public, but Dr Zambry, as the main witness, refused to cooperate.
He said the committee also waived the need for Dr Zambry to bring documents related to MB Inc in a second letter to him.
Unlike the standing order in Parliament, which disallows a public hearing, in Perak, the standing order is “silent”.
“Thus, the PAC members can regulate its own procedures, and we made a decision to be transparent by conducting a public hearing.
“We are disappointed that Dr Zambry brought up technical issues, and the proceedings were unable to go on.
“The matter will be referred to the state assembly. This is an act of contempt to PAC,” Leong told a press conference at the state secretariat building after a 40-minute argument between both parties yesterday.
Five out of the seven committee members were present. Missing were Umno’s Pengkalan Hulu assemblyman Datuk Aznel Ibrahim and Slim assemblyman Datuk Khusairi Abdul Talib.
Also present was second witness, MB Inc’s CEO Datuk Aminuddin Hashim, who also did not give any statement.
Dr Zambry on the other hand called the public hearing unconventional, and said he was willing to stay on if it was held closed-door.
If he had stayed on, he said he would have set a precedent for the committee to flout rules and regulations.
“I am not scared or worried to provide information to the committee but it must be done according to the law.
“The committee said a forensic audit is being carried out. So why are they in a rush for vengeance?” he told a press conference at the state Umno headquarters later.
He said a normal PAC hearing would usually be conducted if an audit by the Auditor-General found discrepancies, and witnesses called to provide information in front of the committee members only.
Dr Zambry said with the findings, the committee would then forward the information to the state assembly, a procedure applied in Parliament as well.
“In the first letter signed by Leong, he wanted me to furnish accounts and reports on MB Inc, forgetting that I am no longer the mentri besar.
“I do not have the executive power to take out the accounts classified under the Official Secrets Act. If I do so, I can be charged under the Act.
“They wanted the documents since the formation of MB Inc in 1951. It is weird because I was not even born at that time,” he said, describing the set-up as an “act of tyranny”.