Are you clueless or attempting to hoodwink public, PAC chief asks minister

 

PAC chairperson Wong Kah Woh launched a broadside against Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Takiyuddin Hassan over the committee's role during the emergency period.

He pointed out that the Dewan Rakyat speaker had informed the PAC and Public Select Committees (PSC) to halt their proceedings during the period that Parliament is suspended.

Wong (above) was responding to the minister's statement that there should not be doubts about the alleged abuse of power during the emergency as the government was functioning as usual.

He said this included the aspects of administrative monitoring by the relevant authorities, especially the MACC, National Audit Department and PAC.

Wong noted that Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, who chairs the health, science and innovation select committee, had called for PSC and PAC meetings to proceed but this fell on deaf ears.

“I wish to ask the minister (who oversees Parliament and legal affairs) if he is truly clueless about this issue or if he is attempting to confuse the public.

“The PAC will not allow the minister to use its name to create the impression that the government has 'nothing to hide',” he added in a statement today.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Takiyuddin Hassan

On the same note, Wong said Takiyuddin's statement clearly acknowledged the importance of a system to monitor the administration.

“But how can this be done if the PAC and PSC are paralysed under the current circumstances?

“On the contrary, the government appears to be more comfortable when its expenditure is not scrutinised,” he added.

Citing examples, including using funds from the National Trust Fund (Kwan) to procure Covid-19 vaccines and for any related expenses, Wong urged the speaker to allow the PAC to convene.

“At the same time, the government must allow Parliament to sit to enable the PAC to table its report for the good of the nation and people,” he added.

In his statement earlier, Takiyuddin said the government has assured that Parliament would be called to convene when the time is right either before or after the Covid-19 emergency ends in August.

However, he said the government would first seek the advice of the relevant agencies, especially the Health Ministry and the National Security Council, on the matter.

“The government is aware of its constitutional responsibilities to ensure that the democratic process will continue to persist in the country through Parliament sitting.

“...but the priority now is to curb the spread of Covid-19 and this includes protecting the health of all members of Parliament, as well as Parliament officials and everyone involved,” he added. - Mkini