‘Paul Low has become BN apologist’

Minister trivialising the Public Accounts Committee chairmanship confirms his BN partisanship, says DAP’s Tony Pua.

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low has disappointingly become an apologist for the BN administration, said Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua.

“His trivialisation of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairmanship confirms his BN partisanship and stains his reputation for transparency and accountability,” he said at the parliament lobby today.

Pua was commenting on the offer made to Selangor BN opposition leader, Mohd Shamsudin Lias, to chair the state PAC, which was rejected.

“Paul Low has dismissed the idea as unnecessary. He said that Malaysia may not have the political maturity to have an opposition member chair its parliamentary PAC.

“His negative response only proves that he has shed his impartial non-governmental organisation skin and has fully embraced BN partisanship,” he said.

Pua added that it was a flimsy excuse provided by Low who said it was not imperative that an opposition member chair the PAC.

“The PAC already consists of those from both sides of the political divide with the chairman serving just as the facilitator. His excuse not only trivialises the position of the PAC chairman, it also doesn’t make any sense.

“If indeed the chairman is just a facilitator, then why not give it to the opposition and why shouldn’t BN accept the role in Selangor?’ asked Pua.