Opposition PAC members quit until a new chair is appointed
KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) from BN and PAS have quit the committee until a new chairman is appointed.
Opposition Leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Bera-BN) told the press that the resignation will be in effect until Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad appoints a new PAC chief from the opposition bench.
Ismail, who is also Umno vice-president, said this would be in line with Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto which pledged to reserve the position of PAC chairman for the opposition.
This is an abuse of the promise they made in their election manifesto. Although we know they have broken many promises, we had hopes that they would at least give the chairman position to us, as part of the parliamentary reform,” said Ismail.
“All opposition PAC members resign with immediate effect and we give full power to the government to oversee the PAC. We will not sit in the committee until the government gives the position of the chairman to the opposition,” he added.
The opposition PAC members are made up of Noraini Ahmad (Parit Sulong-Umno), Ahmad Hamzah (Jasin-Umno) Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Bharu-PAS).
Dr Mahathir had announced that the current PAC chairman Ronald Kiandee would be retained until a replacement has been found.
Controversy surrounding Kiandee who is currently holding the position arose earlier this month when he became a backbencher by joining Bersatu.
He had won the Beluran seat on Umno ticket but quit the party along with other Sabah based lawmakers late last month.
Kiandee’s decision to continue his tenure as PAC chairman resulted in a number of deputy ministers criticising Kiandee. Nurul Izzah Anwar (Permatang-Pauh-PH) quit the committee.
