‘Kiandee can keep PAC post’

He must give up seat only if he joins govt, says Chandra

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee should relinquish his position as the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) only if he joins Pakatan Harapan, the ruling coalition, said International Movement for a Just World (JUST) president Dr Chandra Muzaffar.

He said Kiandee can continue chairing the PAC as his recent departure from Umno only means that he is now an independent MP.

“An independent MP is from the opposition because he/she is not with the government coalition,” he told The Star yesterday.

Chandra pointed out that many other countries around the world appoint an opposition leader, rather than a ruling coalition leader, to chair the PAC.

“So, let’s say if Dr Kiandee’s status changes further, if he joins the government party, then I think he should relinquish his position as the PAC chairman and let someone from the opposition take over,” he said.

At the same time, Chandra described the current political climate as a “flux”, given that politicians are constantly switching alliances across political divides.

“So, I think we will be confronted by situa-

tions like this (in future). Because the government decides to set up a number of parliamentary select committees and there are other issues related to parliamentary reforms which are being looked into.

“I suppose that once these ideas (on parliamentary reforms) begin to firm up, we will have to deal with challenges on who should head the committees.

“The PAC across other countries, namely India, the United Kingdom, Canada and Ireland are headed by its respective opposition leader,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prof Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi, who was previously among the five-member panel of the now defunct Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC), also expressed similar sentiments as Chandra, saying it’s too premature to call for Kiandee’s resignation as PAC chairman.

“Even if he resigned, it (PAC chairman position) is reserved for someone in the opposition, and that includes an independent MP,” he said.

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Jeniri Amir, meanwhile said Pakatan must abide by the principles of good governance in administering the government and ensure that PAC is headed by an opposition leader.

The Pakatan manifesto stated that it will name an opposition MP for the PAC chairman’s position as a way of reforming Parliament.

Questions on Kiandee’s position arose following his move to quit Umno to become an independent lawmaker.

He is one of the five Sabah Umno MPs who left the party last Wednesday.

Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi previously said that the opposition would propose another of its MPs to replace Kiandee as the PAC chairman.

Kiandee replied that he will leave it to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to decide on the matter.

Even if he resigned, it (PAC chairman position) is reserved for someone in the opposition, and that includes an independent MP. Prof Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi