Opposition members quit PAC

Timothy Achariam Timothy Achariam Updated 5 years ago · Published on 25 Mar 2019 3:11PM · 2 Comments

Opposition chief Ismail Sabri Yaakob says having a member of the ruling pact as PAC chief goes against Pakatan Harapan's election manifesto. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, March 25, 2019.

OPPOSITION members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have resigned with immediate effect over the chairman controversy.

They are Dr Noraini Ahmad (Parit Sulong-BN) and Ahmad Hamzah (Jasin-BN), as well as Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Baru-PAS).

“We will not be in PAC unless the government appoints a member of the opposition as the committee’s chairman,” opposition leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob told the press at the Parliament lobby today.

PAC is currently headed by Ronald Kiandee, who joined Bersatu this month. The Beluran MP was appointed to the post when he was with Umno, which he quit last December.

Prime Minister and Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said there is no need for Kiandee to quit his PAC post, as he took up the chairmanship when he was in the opposition.

Ismail Sabri said retaining Kiandee as PAC chief goes against Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto.

“We see this as a deviation from their promises. Although they have not kept many of their promises, we had hoped that with the transformation of Parliament, they would stick to their word to have an opposition member as PAC chairman.

“We give all power to the government to run PAC.”

He said the trio have yet to serve their quit notice to the committee, but will do so soon.

Takiyuddin, who was present at the press conference, said Dr Mahathir does not need to choose the new PAC chairman as the opposition has given him the name of its candidate.

“There is no need for the prime minister to select a candidate. The PAC chairman has to be from the opposition, and since Umno-BN has the biggest number of opposition members, they get to choose.”

Ismail Sabri said the opposition has informed the Dewan Rakyat speaker that its pick for the post is Noraini.

“There had been no response from the government until yesterday, when Dr Mahathir told a press conference that there is no need to change the PAC chairman.”

He said the decision to keep Kiandee in the post has been slammed by PH lawmakers, including Nurul Izzah Anwar, Anwar Ibrahim and Hannah Yeoh.

Asked bout Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming‘s statement today, that PAC will be headed by Kiandee until it wraps up ongoing cases, Ismail Sabri said “it is not true”.

“Noraini is a PAC member. She knows what’s going on in the committee. That’s why we chose her.”

Nurul Izzah last week quit PAC in protest against Dr Mahathir’s decision on Kiandee. – March 25, 2019.

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Comments

  • What a hypocrite? When BN was in power, the PAC Chairman was the NP for Rompin. Then the opposition members did not threaten to withdraw. Why now UMNO wants out?

    Posted 5 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • Until the opposition learns to be behave and mature in outlook , then it is appropriate that they head the PAC but if every purpose is to protest and sabotage the PAC to make PH ineffective then it serve no purpose for opposition to be PAC Chairman. The latest scuffle of Najib Lieutenant in rough handling of the students shows that opposition are far form a desire form where only thuggery and violence are their ability only shows thei their inability to even have a proper discussions.. Let Mahatir do it his way but have to ensure he does not go overboard. DAP and Amanah has got to be vocal as many now are seeing the silence of both parties as pandering to the old fox in keeping peace and status quo. It does both parties no good as too many disapointments and dismal performance are turning away supporters who are seeig Bersatu, PKR and even Amanah MPs and the nominated MBS very very very incompetent.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply