BN nominates Jazlan as PAC chief, Seng Giaw as deputy

Barisan Nasional (BN) has named Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed (pic) as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman, a key parliamentary post that has oversight over government spending and coveted by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

The Malaysian Insider understands that BN is putting the trained accountant and corporate man in charge of PAC as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was concerned about the plethora of cases likely to come before the committee.

"Jazlan has the background and is seen as acceptable to the Opposition too," said a BN source, pointing out that the Pulai MP was a PAC member in the last parliament.

PR had previously asked for the PAC top post, saying most major parliamentary democracies have the committee headed by the opposition but BN has insisted they keep the job.

The three-term MP's nomination as chairman by the prime minister and Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw as deputy chairman has been included in today's Order Paper for the Dewan Rakyat, the last day of the current sitting of the 13th Parliament.

It is learnt that BN had considered several other names for the post, including a few former ministers who are still MPs but Najib had plumped for Jazlan due to his corporate and accountancy background. The others were also seen to have political baggage for the key post.

If confirmed, Jazlan will have a tougher time than his predecessors as PR now has a formidable bench of parliamentarians knowledgeable in finance such as Raub MP Datuk Mohd Ariff Sabri, Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, Petaling Jaya MP Tony Pua and Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli.

The PAC will also have a wider portfolio to cover as the Auditor-General can now open up the books of sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd, which holds the government's shares in some 70 companies, including public-listed entities.

The Auditor-General's Report has been used as a basis for PAC investigations and there are number of public infrastructure projects that have seen cost overruns and delays that would see interest such as the KLIA2 project.

Under Parliament rules, the PAC consists of a chairman and vice-chairman to be appointed by the House, and not less than six and not more than 12 members to be nominated by the committee of selection, as soon as may be after the beginning of each Parliament.

The PAC's main job is to examine the country's accounts and appropriation of the sums granted by Parliament to meet the public expenditure. accounts of public authorities and those administering public funds, Auditor-General's Reports and other matters it deems fit.

Jazlan was formerly chairman of the UDA Holdings Bhd, a company under the Ministry of Finance, and also a director in Telekom Malaysia Bhd.

The New Straits Times reported last week speculation that the 47-year-old could be Telekom Malaysia's next chairman but there has been no confirmation yet although several BN MPs head some government agencies and companies.

Jazlan is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants UK and was a council member and chairman of the Public Relations Committee of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants, as well as a council member of the Asean Federation of Accountants.

He is the eldest son of former information minister and Umno secretary-general, the late Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat.