Opposition fails to get more say in Public Accounts Committee

Nur Jazlan remains PAC chairman. The Malaysian Insider pic, September 26, 2013.The opposition has failed in its push for more representation in Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The composition of the committee was unveiled by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, where the Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Rakyat ratio remained at 9:5.

Apart from chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed (BN-Pulai), other BN members are Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (BN-Kepala Batas), Datuk Chua Tee Yong (BN-Labis), Datuk Abd Aziz Sheikh Fadzir (BN-Kulim Bandar Baru), Liang Teck Meng (BN-Simpang Renggam), Datuk Madius Tangau (BN-Tuaran), Hasbi Habibollah (BN-Limbang) and Datuk Wee Jeck Seng (BN-Tanjung Piai).

The opposition members, apart from deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong), are Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas (PKR-Telok Kemang), William Leong Jee Ken (PKR-Selayang), Datuk Kamarudin Jaafar (PAS-Tumpat) and Tony Pua Kiam Kee (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara).

Under Parliament rules, 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 after each new Parliament session.

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

PAC will 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 a number of public infrastructure projects that have seen cost overruns and delays.

One of them is the KLIA2 project.

Pandikar Amin also named the composition of three other panels, namely Standing Order, House and Rights and Privileges committees.