Kit Siang: Mas not fit to lead PAC after opposing audit debate

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin was no longer fit to be the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson after the latter boycotted the Dewan Rakyat debate on the 2021 Auditor-General's Report.

Lim, who was elected as an MP 11 times by various constituencies, said the episode showed that Mas Ermieyati lacked independence and was submissive to Perikatan Nasional's directive.

He argued that it was not uncommon for similar reports to be debated in other parliaments.

"The reason why such reports are referred immediately to the PAC in the past was that the previous governments were not prepared to give time for a debate (and provide answers) before referring it to the PAC for fuller study and investigations," Lim said in a statement today.

On June 6, PN chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan filed a motion to block the government's attempt to debate the document, arguing that a debate on the auditor-general's report would be unconventional.

PN MP Takiyuddin Hassan with a copy of the Auditor-General’s Report 2021 next to PAC chairperson Mas Ermieyati Samsudin in the Dewan Rakyat

Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee argued that according to Standing Order 77, the audit report should only be examined by the PAC and debating the report in the Dewan Rakyat would undermine the PAC's functions.

Mas Ermieyati was among those who supported Takiyuddin's motion. After Takiyuddin's motion was turned down, PN MPs, including Mas Ermieyati, boycotted the debate.

In view of this, Lim argued for Parliament to replace Mas Ermieyati with her deputy Wong Shu Qi, the MP for Kluang.

PAC members Wong Shu Qi and Mas Ermieyati holding the 2021 Auditor-General’s Report

However, it should be noted that since 2018, all PAC chairpersons had been a member of the opposition.

"This would also avoid the invidious position of Mas Ermieyati having to preside over the examination of the 2021 and 2022 government accounts when PN formed the government, and the invidious position of Wong having to lead the examination of the 2023 accounts when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government was in the saddle.

"It would be better if Mas Emieyati suggest these changes in the PAC chairperson for the three years to examine the auditor-general's report for 2021, 2022 and 2023," Lim added. - Mkini