DAP lawmaker claims 'most backbenchers' want Kiandee out of PAC

PARLIAMENT | Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng (above) today claimed most government backbenchers agree that Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Ronald Kiandee should be replaced with a lawmaker from the opposition.

"It is clear that most government backbenchers want to replace the PAC chairperson with a member of Parliament from the opposition.

"With all due respect, Beluran (Kiandee) is an old friend, but this is a matter of principle," Lim said in the Dewan Rakyat today before debates on the royal address.

He cited Standing Order 77 which deals with the functions of the PAC.

Lim said the reason for replacing Kiandee was simple as having a PAC chairperson from the opposition was part of Pakatan Harapan's election manifesto.

"We must fulfill (the manifesto promise). There are no two ways about it," he said.

Lim then called on Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon to make a ruling on the issue.

Mohd Rashid merely said the matter has been noted and would be discussed by the selection committee.

Malaysiakini has contacted backbenchers' chief Johari Abdul on Lim's claim and is awaiting a reply.

Opposition chief Ismail Sabri today announced that opposition members of the PAC will resign from the committee until the government agrees to replace Kiandee as chairperson.

Kiandee was the first opposition MP to be appointed as the PAC chairperson in August last year, while he was still an Umno MP.

However, he subsequently quit Umno and eventually joined Bersatu on March 15.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad then said there were no plans to hand the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson's position back to the opposition, although its current chief Ronald Kiandee (above) joined his ruling party Bersatu.

Mahathir said Pakatan Harapan's promise for the PAC to be headed by the opposition is "only policy, and not institutionalised or part of the constitution".

On Saturday, the prime minister said that Kiandee would remain as the PAC chair until a replacement was found. - Mkini