PAKATAN Harapan leaders should discuss with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad about the position of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman, said Anwar Ibrahim.

The chairman of the parliamentary caucus on reform and governance, acknowledging that the PH manifesto states that PAC should be chaired by a member of the opposition, said the issue remains open to discussion.

“I think we can discuss it again and refer to the prime minister. The manifesto states that the PAC chairman should be from the opposition, but the matter should be brought to a discussion with the prime minister,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

PAC chairman Ronald Kiandee was nominated by Barisan Nasional, and his appointment was endorsed by the Dewan Rakyat.

However, the Beluran MP’s defection to Bersatu has sparked calls from within PH for him to quit the PAC post.

Asked about his view on the matter, Anwar said he is bound by the manifesto.

“I am bound by the manifesto, but we will see the prime minister’s explanation and rationale on this issue,” he said. 

Umno vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin had said PH broke it’s election promise by allowing Kiandee to remain as PAC chairman. 

He said now that Kiandee had received his Bersatu membership, it was only right, and in keeping with PH’s election promise, to let the parliamentary committee be helmed by a member of the opposition.

Dr Mahathir said PH did not break its election promise to appoint a member of the opposition as PAC chairman because Kiandee was still with Umno when he was appointed last year, after PH formed the federal government. – March 18, 2019.