Opposition heads 4 out of 9 PSCs in latest MOU promise delivered

 

Another promise outlined in the Putrajaya-Pakatan Harapan memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been delivered.

The promise fulfilled was item 3.3 on parliamentary reforms - which sought to have a better balance between government and opposition in Parliament Special Select Committees (PSC).

In a statement today, Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun said in line with the MOU, all nine PSCs have been reorganised, with the government heading five committees and the opposition four.

Previously, only one PSC was headed by the opposition.

Likewise, the membership of PSCs has been increased from seven to nine, and will also be split 5:4 among government and opposition members.

The new line-up of PSC chairpersons are as follows:

• Fundamental Liberty and Constitutional Rights - Azizah Mohd Dun (PN-Beaufort)
• Finance and Economy - Hasan Arifin (BN-Rompin)
• Agencies under the Prime Minister's Department - Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai)
• Infrastructure Development - Yusuf Abd Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis)
• Women and Children Affairs, and Social Development - Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang)
• Security - Johari Abdul (Harapan-Sungai Petani)
• Agriculture and Domestic Trade - Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Harapan-Kulim Bandar Bharu)
• Education - Maszlee Malik (Independent-Simpang Renggam)
• Health, Science, and Innovation - Dr Kelvin Yii (Harapan-Bandar Kuching)

For the full list of PSC members, refer to this list.

 According to Hannah Yeoh (Pakatan Harapan-Segambut), who sits on the PSC on Women and Children Affairs, and Social Development, the committees are tasked with holding the executive accountable.

"They can call and summon civil servants, ministers, and look into policies.

"They will then compile their findings and table them in Parliament. However, the executive is not bound by the PSCs' recommendations," she told Malaysiakini. = Mkini