Government rapped for failure to replace PAC head
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA’s sole federal lawmaker Wee Ka Siong took a swipe at the Pakatan led government over its failure to appoint a new public accounts committee (PAC) chairman.
“When we say Pakatan leaders lie, you get angry. Why is it so difficult to appoint a new PAC chairman from the opposition bench?” Wee who is also Ayer Hitam MP said in a statement posted on Facebook.
He noted that since 2004, the position of PAC chairman and vice chairman was held by backbenchers and opposition lawmakers.
Wee questioned Pakatan’s commitment in realising their manifesto.
“If the Pakatan government is truly committed in keeping up to its promises to so call reform the parliament institution, replace the current PAC chairman who is from Bersatu,” he said in reference to Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee.
Kiandee was appointed as the PAC chairman while being an Umno lawmaker but switched to the Dr Mahathir led Bersatu months after GE14.
Wee had raised the issue in the debate but was brushed off by Deputy Minister in Prime Minister’s Department in charge of law Hanipa Maidin.
The MCA president also reminded the Pakatan led government that it was them who stated in their manifesto to appoint an opposition lawmaker as PAC chairman.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had already announced that Kiandee would be removed once a replacement is found.
Umno and PAS lawmakers who were PAC members have already quit in protest. Backbencher Nurul Izzah Anwar too quit in protest.
