Calls for new PAC chief grow louder

KUALA LUMPUR: Voices are growing louder in the Dewan Rakyat for Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee to be replaced as Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman.

The latest objection came from Kiandee’s own “friend”, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng of Pakatan Harapan, who openly called on Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon to make a ruling on the issue.

“With all due respect, YB Beluran (Kiandee) is my old friend but this is a matter of principle,” he said yesterday, noting that Pakatan must keep to its election manifesto, which outlined that the PAC chairman be appointed from the opposition.

Earlier in the Dewan Rakyat, Lim cited Standing Order 77, which deals with the functions of the PAC.

“It is obvious that Pakatan backbenchers want the PAC chairman to be replaced,” he said.

Mohd Rashid responded, saying that Lim’s request would be taken note of and discussed by Parliament’s Select Committee.

In Parliament lobby, Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS-Kota Baru) noted that the top two PAC posts were being held by Pakatan lawmakers, namely Kiandee and Ipoh Timur MP Wong Kah Woh.

“At the very least, the chairman post could be held by someone from the government side, while the deputy should be a representative from the opposition,” he said.

Takiyuddin, who is PAS secretary-general, noted that there were concerns that the PAC could not function as an independent body to query the government if both its top posts were held by Pakatan MPs.

On Saturday, Subang MP Wong Chen of PKR said PAC members had written to the Prime Minister, relaying their dissent about Kiandee remaining in the position.

The calls for Kiandee to quit had also come from three deputy ministers, namely Steven Sim, Hannah Yeoh and Chong Chieng Jen.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad gave an assurance that Pakatan would keep to its promise and that Kiandee would remain the PAC chairman until a suitable replacement was found.

Initially, Kiandee was the first opposition MP to hold the post when he was appointed in August last year while he was Umno MP.

But he and four other Sabah Umno MPs subsequently quit Umno and turned independent before joining Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia on March 15.

Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming said it would be unfair to the public if the PAC chairman was replaced now as the PAC was nearing the completion of its probe into several high-profile cases such as the missing Goods and Services Tax and income tax funds amounting to about RM36bil.