Move to replace PAC chairman hailed

SEVERAL lawmakers welcome the government’s decision to put forward a motion to replace the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, who’s part of the PAC, said he was glad that the government had put forward a motion to replace Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, who is currently the committee’s chairman.

“Yes, (I’m glad). Because all this while, during Barisan Nasional’s time, the chairman was from the government but the deputy chairman is from the opposition.

“But, as it is now, both (chairman and deputy chairman) are from the government.

“So, either one must come from the opposition,” he said when met at the Parliament lobby.

Takiyuddin reiterated that Pakatan Harapan must follow through with its election manifesto that the PAC must be chaired by an opposition MP.

“It’s (election manifesto) is not legally binding. But, it’s morally binding on them,” he added.

Deputy PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh said the committee would continue with its proceedings as usual until a replacement to the chair was done.

“I believe every PAC member will be professional in continuing with their responsibilities,” he said.

Opposition chief Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, however, said that there was no need for lawmakers to attend the PAC meeting.

“With or without the resignation letter, if they do not attend the meeting, this is the same,” said Ismail.

Last month, Parit Sulong MP Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad and Jasin MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah along with Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar resigned from the PAC pending the replacement of Kiandee as its chairman

Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming, when met by reporters at the Parliament lobby, however, slammed the purported resignation of the lawmakers, labelling it as a disrespect towards Parliament.

“We actually felt that their resignation is a total disrespect to the committee because they did not actually tender a formal resignation.

“They only tendered their resignation through a press conference. But there’s no letter. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Without mincing his words, Nga labelled the “resignation” of the trio as an un-parliamentary practice.

“This is not a parliamentary practice. If you want to tender resignation, you should actually tender your letter of resignation,” he added.

Asked to comment on Nurul Izzah’s exit from the PAC, Nga merely said it was up to her to decide whether she wants to return to the committee.

“Will Nurul come back? She has to decide,” he said.

However, Nurul Izzah has since returned as a member of the PAC following the move to replace the present chairman.

“I agreed to rejoin PAC after discussions with Chief Whip (Datuk Johari Abdul) and getting approval from the Speaker (Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof),” Nurul Izzah said in a WhatsApp message shared with reporters.

She said she also hoped that the reformation agenda would continue to benefit the people and the nation.

When met outside a PAC closeddoor meeting, Kiandee confirmed that Nurul Izzah had attended the meeting.

Earlier, the government moved a motion to replace Kiandee with Noraini as PAC chairman.

The motion appeared as the ninth item on the Dewan Rakyat Order Paper for yesterday’s sitting, after a few Bills.

Noraini, who is Parit Sulong MP and Umno Wanita chief, was proposed to replace Kiandee.

When contacted, Kiandee said he accepts the decision, adding he has no issues with it.

Asked on the ongoing PAC proceedings, Kiandee said the new chairman would take over.

“Whoever it is will take over where we stopped (on the probes),” he said.

Uproar erupted over Kiandee’s chairmanship of the PAC after he left Sabah Umno to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia on March 15.

Pakatan’s manifesto previously stated that the PAC must be chaired by an opposition MP.

There are 12 PAC members - eight from Pakatan Harapan, two from Barisan, and one each from PAS and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu.

Nurul Izzah had earlier resigned from the PAC, believed to be in protest of the government’s move to take over the PAC chair.

The PAC is a parliamentary oversight committee that examines the government’s financial operations, accounts and funds granted by Parliament.

It also studies the AuditorGeneral’s reports and may also probe troubled government entities, projects and programmes to make recommendations.

I believe every PAC member will be professional in continuing with their responsibilities. Wong Kah Woh