PAC chief - can a referee also be a player, asks Gerakan

Pakatan Harapan's insistence on keeping Ronald Kiandee as Public Accounts Committee chairperson has irked Gerakan leaders who say the move has "violated" the coalition's election manifesto.

Kiandee, an Umno MP, crossed over to Bersatu together with seven others on March 15.

Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong (above) said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement that he never expected Ronald to cross over to Harapan was "completely untenable".

Mahathir had said that Kiandee was picked to be the PAC chairperson when he was with the opposition and thus retaining him as its head following his defection to Harapan did not contravene Harapan's manifesto.

"This is pure chicanery. The PAC chief should be replaced immediately following Kiandee's defection to Harapan," he said.

"The function of the PAC is to check the accounts of the various government agencies but now the PAC head is from a government party.

"Can a football referee also be the player? Do you think this is a fair game?" queried the Gerakan state chief.

Gerakan vice-president Baljit Singh (above), meanwhile, questioned why DAP leaders have remained silent and not listening to their own leaders.

He pointed out that DAP's Hannah Yeoh, who is deputy women, family and community development minister, had urged Parliament to amend the Standing Order making it compulsory for the PAC to be chaired by an opposition leader.

"Yeoh has now called for the PAC to be led by an opposition lawmaker as stipulated in Harapan's election manifesto, why not listen to her?" Baljit asked.

"Does Harapan only listen to good advice when it suits them? This move to retain Kiandee as PAC chief completely erodes Harapan's credibility as the ruling government.

"PAC has an important task to do and it must be seen to be credible and fair," Baljit told Malaysiakini.

"What is the point of PAC when there can be no credible checks and balances by it?" he asked.- Mkini