Putrajaya confirms ex-deputy speaker Kiandee to lead PAC

De facto law minister Liew Vui Keong says the Cabinet has given the go-ahead for Ronald Kiandee to lead the PAC as Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has declined the offer.

Former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee is slated to lead Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Putrajaya today confirmed former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee as the sole opposition candidate to chair Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) after Ahmad Zahid Hamidi turned down the offer.

“Zahid declined the offer when we met a couple of days ago, citing among other reasons the fact that he was a former Cabinet member. He proposed Kiandee’s name from the opposition instead,” Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong told FMT.

Liew said he had briefed the Cabinet on the matter yesterday and the members had accepted the proposal.

“The motion will be tabled this Tuesday. It is up to the speaker if he will allow it to be debated,” he added.

Liew previously said Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk MP and Umno president, had been put forward for the position. However, he said it was up to Zahid to decide whether or not to accept the post.

Zahid, the opposition leader, reportedly said he would wait for an official letter on the appointment of the PAC chief. He also said he would discuss the matter with MPs from Barisan Nasional and PAS.

Last week, Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming said the motion to name the PAC chairman and deputy chairman would most likely be tabled for debate on either Aug 6 or 7.

The Dewan Rakyat order paper for Monday’s proceeding lists a motion to be brought forward by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to name Kiandee, who is Beluran MP, and Ipoh Timur MP Wong Kah Woh as PAC chairman and deputy chairman respectively.

This is in line with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government’s manifesto pledge to appoint an opposition MP as PAC chairman and a lawmaker from PH as deputy chairman.

Wong is from DAP while Kiandee is from Umno. -FMT