PAKATAN Harapan is breaking yet another election promise by allowing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Ronald Kiandee to continue holding the post, said Umno.

Vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin said now that Kiandee had received his Bersatu membership, it was only right and in keeping with the federal government’s election promise to let the parliamentary committee be helmed by a member of the opposition.

“This promise was made openly and earnestly for the sake of transparency in the PAC’s dealings.

“Now that Kiandee has moved to Bersatu, this requires that he be replaced with a new chairman from the opposition. Barisan Nasional has already nominated Parit Sulong MP Noraini Ahmad,” Khaled said in a statement today.

Kiandee, the Beluran MP, was already PAC chief when he quit Umno in December. He yesterday received his membership card from Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also prime minister and PH chairman.

When asked about the PAC position yesterday, Dr Mahathir said Kiandee could stay on as its chief as the promise that the position be held by the opposition was “not institutionalised”.

Dr Mahathir added that Kiandee could be replaced “if the opposition gets enough support”.

Khaled today said this stance contradicted PH’s manifesto and commitment to transparency and good governance.

“For sure it is not in the constitution, but it does not mean it is not a good practice. What more when it was in PH’s own manifesto,” said Khaled.

When Kiandee was made the PAC chief last year after PH won the 14th general election, it marked the first time that the post was given to a member of the opposition after six decades of BN rule. – March 16, 2019.