Wee: Replace PAC chief now

Ensure balance of power is maintained, insists MCA president

KUALA LUMPUR: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman should be replaced without any delay to ensure fairness and integrity, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The MCA president said the replacement must be done immediately as it was related to the check and balance mechanism.

Dr Wee said among the PAC’s responsibilities were to check public accounts and investigate discrepancies in government administration, as highlighted in the AuditorGeneral’s report.

PAC, he said, was also responsible for making proposals on improvement to the government.

Dr Wee said since 2004, the positions of PAC chairman and deputy chairman were held by representatives from the ruling party and the opposition.

“This is to ensure power balance and allows the PAC to monitor and point out any mistakes in a fair and objective manner.

“However, ever since Beluran MP Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee jumped ship from Umno to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, the ruling party now holds both positions.

“This is the first time in 15 years that such a scenario has happened,” said Dr Wee in a statement.

He also took a swipe at Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming, who had opposed the replacement of Dr Kiandee.

“He (Nga) is not concerned about the authority and integrity of PAC. All he cares about is to justify what the Prime Minister said,” he added.

Separately, opposition leader Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob could not confirm if the three MPs from Barisan Nasional and PAS had officially resigned from the PAC.

“I don’t know. I only made a decision in terms of resigning. But whether they have sent in their resignation letters, I haven’t checked or asked them.

“But in the recent meeting, representatives from the Opposition did not attend, meaning they have quit,” the Bera MP told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

Ismail also denied accusations that the resignations of the three were not official.

“When all of them do not attend the meeting, it’s considered that they have quit. Just like an MP, who wins an election but does not attend the swearing-in,” he said.

On Monday, Ismail said the three Opposition MPs, who made up onethird of the PAC, had resigned.

The three comprise two from Barisan – Parit Sulong MP Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad and Jasin MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah and one from PAS – Kota Baru MP Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan.