PAKATAN Harapan did not break its election promise to appoint a member of the opposition as Public Accounts Committee chairman, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

This was because PAC chief Ronald Kiandee was still with Umno under Barisan Nasional when he was made chairman of the parliamentary committee last year, after PH formed the federal government.

Kiandee, the Beluran MP, quit Umno in December and formally joined Dr Mahathir’s party, Bersatu, yesterday when he received his membership certificate.

“We never expected him (Kiandee) to move over. Previously, he was with the opposition. So we fulfilled what we said in our manifesto.

“But if he chooses to join a government party, what can we do? It’s not that he was chosen by the government, he was first chosen (for PAC chief) by the opposition,” Dr Mahathir said at an event in Putrajaya today.

The prime minister was asked about criticism of PH following his remarks yesterday that Kiandee would stay on as PAC chief despite joining Bersatu.

BN has already nominated Parit Sulong MP Noraini Ahmad as Kiandee’s replacement. Dr Mahathir said the opposition could push for a new PAC chief if they had “enough support”.

Asked if other PH component parties also agreed to retaining Kiandee as the PAC chief, Dr Mahaathir said: “As far as I know, all agree.”

However, at least two PH colleagues from PKR and DAP were the first to disagree yesterday.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh and Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar tweeted their disapproval.

“Time for Parliament to amend the Standing Order making it compulsory for the PAC to be chaired by (an) opposition leader.

“Harapan needs to institutionalise every reform leaving no room for discretion or convenience. We did it in Selangor,” Yeoh, who was formerly Selangor state assembly speaker, tweeted.

Nurul Izzah, who is a current member of the PAC, tweeted her agreement with Yeoh.

“Agreed. The chairperson position of the PAC must be filled by the opposition to pursue accountability of the executive,” the PKR politician said, adding that she would remind the Dewan Rakyat speaker to ensure that such reforms will include the PAC. – March 16, 2019.