Ronald Kiandee to quit PAC after passing baton to successor

Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee has decided to quit as chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) amid the controversy surrounding his post.

"How can I still be in PAC? If the chairperson is replaced, it means I'm out. It's very clear.

"I can't be a regular member, can I?" he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

According to Kiandee, the motion to replace him could be presented in next week's parliamentary sitting, after which he will leave the PAC.

During his tenure, he recalled chairing 30 PAC meetings and handling seven issues.

"As long as I was the chairperson, I made sure that the committee members did not represent their parties and only the Parliament. There was no issue of being biased against anyone, we conducted probes fairly, and according to facts," Kiandee said.

Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar resigned from the PAC on March 22, in protest of Kiandee being retained as the committee’s chairperson despite his defection from Umno to Bersatu.

She had insisted that the PAC be headed by an opposition lawmaker to ensure the accountability of the executive.

In its election manifesto, Pakatan Harapan had pledged to select an opposition lawmaker to head the committee.

Nurul today said that she is rejoining the PAC, following the government's decision to replace Kiandee with BN Parit Sulong MP Noraini Ahmad. - Mkini