PAC remains crippled since change of govt

Three Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reports could not be tabled to the Dewan Rakyat following the government’s failure to appoint a new chairperson and restructure the committee.

PAC member Wong Kah Woh (above) said the PAC has been crippled since the change of federal power after several members were appointed to various government positions, leaving it unable to function until November.

Since March 9, not a single PAC proceeding has been conducted and no witnesses were summoned.

“Up to Aug 18, the committee only managed to meet nine times, compared to previous years where we met at least 60 times a year.

“All of the PAC’s functions have been crippled by the government due to delays in restructuring its members," he said.

“There are three PAC reports that are ready to be tabled during this (parliamentary) session, whereas three others have yet to be finalised.

“At the start of the current session in July, the auditor-general’s report was tabled and cases in this report would have been investigated by the PAC, but we couldn’t hold our proceedings,” Wong added.

The Ipoh Timur MP said this during a press conference at the Parliament building today.

During the previous Pakatan Harapan-led administration, the government had appointed Noraini Ahmad (above) to be the first opposition MP to chair the PAC.

This is in contrast to the BN-era practice of appointing government backbenchers to the post.

Following the collapse of the Harapan government, Noraini was appointed as the higher education minister and had to relinquish her PAC chair on March 10.

This is in accordance with Standing Order 77(4), which states: “No member may be appointed or nominated to or act as chairperson or member of the PAC while he/she is a minister”.

Apart from Noraini, four other PAC members were also appointed as ministers and deputy ministers.

Wong said the PAC is running out of time to perform check and balance against the government, since the current parliamentary session would end next week.

Hence, he hopes the government will give urgent attention to the matter.

“We couldn’t even hold one proceeding or call one witness. Next week is the last week for this session.

“If nothing changes, the PAC will have to wait until the November session. We want to work but we cannot,” he said. - Mkini