Nurul Izzah quits PAC over PM’s move to retain chairman

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 22 Mar 2019 6:19PM · 6 Comments

Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar has resigned as a PAC member after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad allowed PAC chairman Ronald Kiandee to stay on after he is no longer an opposition lawmaker. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, March 22, 2019.

PERMATANG Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar has resigned from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil confirmed.

Her move follows Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s decision to allow PAC chairman Ronald Kiandee to remain in the post despite the Beluran MP no longer being an opposition lawmaker.

Fahmi, who is also the Lembah Pantai MP, replied “Yes” to The Malaysian Insight when asked to verify a news report that Nurul Izzah had submitted her resignation to Kiandee, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohd Ariff Md Yusof, as well as Pakatan Harapan chief whip Johari Abdul.

PAC deputy chairman Wong Kah Woh also confirmed Nurul Izzah’s resignation to The Malaysian Insight, saying her letter was received this afternoon.

Kiandee was appointed PAC chief while still an Umno lawmaker after Pakatan Harapan won the 14th general election as part of the coalition’s election promise to let the bipartisan parliamentary committee be led by a member of the opposition.

He quit Umno in December and formally joined Bersatu a week ago, when Dr Mahathir said the Sabah lawmaker could stay on as PAC chief because it was “not institutionalised” that the post must be held by an opposition MP.

Dr Mahathir also said that as far as PH was concerned, it had fulfilled its election promise as Kiandee had been appointed PAC chief while he was still with Umno, adding, “We never expected him to move over”.

Nurul Izzah, as well as Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh, had been among PH lawmakers to speak out against Dr Mahathir’s announcement.

Nurul Izzah had tweeted that the post of PAC chief “must be filled by the opposition to pursue accountability of the executive”.

The two top posts in PAC are now filled by government lawmakers, as deputy chairman Wong, the Ipoh Timur MP, is from DAP.

In December, the eldest child of PKR president Anwar Ibrahim had quit her party posts as vice-president and Penang PKR chief to focus on being a government backbencher “committed to reforms”.

She had cited “beliefs and ideals” that were dear to her and to which she could be “most true to them” by resigning. – March 22, 2019.

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Comments

  • Dr Mahathir, u r moving from angel to evil again. Is it in your blood? We want a progressive society with check and balance. U want to maintain something totally against PH manifesto, u e seeking for self defeat or perhaps self suicide.

    Posted 5 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • It is Nurul who all of a sudden trying to behave like an angel. Let's not forget the Kajang Move n many other "events" she endorsed just becos it was her family. Nurul don't be a hypocrite

    Posted 5 years ago by Dato Radha · Reply

  • Kudos......stick to your principle.

    Posted 5 years ago by Badrul Hisham · Reply

  • Good riddance. Get lost.. you dont deserve any acknowledgement after you just resigned from all your posts without any explanation ! People had high hopes of you but you let everyone down. Please dont ever stand in the next election because I hope that you get zero votes!!

    Posted 5 years ago by Kampung Boy · Reply

  • Empty Hero Theatrics! Anything of substance to offer? See problem
    Then quit. Dont know how to fight for right if really feel that way?

    Posted 5 years ago by Roland Voon · Reply

  • You should also resign from your MP position just resign 1 to many in your family for if you cant contribute why stay!!

    Posted 5 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply