The head of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) - a powerful parliamentary select committee which can scrutinise government spending - claims that the body has been "paralysed".
In a statement today, PAC vice-chairperson Wong Kah Woh (above) (DAP-Ipoh Timur) said the committee had last met on March 4 and could not proceed as some committee members are now part of the executive.
PAC chairperson Noraini Ahmad Higher (Umno-Parit Sulong) has been appointed education minister while committee member Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS-Kota Bharu) is the law minister.
Three other committee members - Muslimin Yahaya (Bersatu-Sungai Besar), Ismail Mohamed Said (Umno-Kuala Krau) and Ahmad Hamzah (Umno-Jasin) - are deputy ministers.
Wong said that the Dewan Rakyat was supposed to elect a new selection committee - which would determine the composition of Parliament's various select committees - during the May sitting.
However, that sitting lasted only half a day and therefore a new PAC could not be formed.
Wong said the PAC has four reports pending which are important to ensure government finances are in check.
"Sadly, we are not able to do it now," he said.
"The Muhyiddin administration had killed off the spirit of parliamentary democracy since March... The government's actions and decisions will continue to remain unscrutinised by the legislative arm.
"This is a big step backwards for the nation." - Mkini
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