THE opposition’s three reps in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have already “resigned” by not attending the committee’s proceedings, so there is no need for them to submit resignation letters, Ismail Sabri Yaakob said. 

“Not going for the meeting is the same thing,” the opposition leader told reporters at a press conference in the Parliament building today. 

The MPs in the PAC are BN’s Ahmad Hamzah (Jasin) and Dr Noraini Ahmad (Parit Sulong), while the sole PAS MP is Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Baru).

On March 25, they declared they were quitting the PAC in protest against the government’s initial decision to retain Dr Ronald Kiandee as chairman. 

Under the Pakatan Harapan election manifesto, the PAC chairmanship is reserved for a member of the opposition. 

Kiandee, who is Beluran MP, was an Umno man when he was appointed PAC chairman last year but has since joined Bersatu, a component party in the ruling PH pact.

Ismail, who is also Bera MP, said BN had already given notice to propose that Noraini be appointed the new PAC chairman.

He said Noraini has the support of opposition MPs as well as government backbenchers. 

Putrajaya will move a motion in Parliament to replace Kiandee with Noraini. 

The motion to be tabled by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad appears as item No. 9 on the Order Paper of the Dewan Rakyat sitting today. – April 4, 2019.