KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 — Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) is prepared to provide live coverage of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearings if allowed to do so, said Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

He said there was a need to change the assumption that PAC hearings were confidential and only the chairman was allowed to issue a statement, and he felt that this could be done through live television coverage.

“It is necessary to change a number of things. Perhaps some of the hearings are too long that they cannot be summed up by the chairman in a few minutes,” he said, adding that a live coverage would also help to enhance the integrity of the PAC.

Ahmad Shabery said RTM had taken the lead in telecasting live the question time in the Dewan Rakyat, after which it is broadcast via Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) for everyone to watch.

“As such, the issue of confidentiality does not arise,” he said when commenting on the assumption that PAC investigations were too confidential and would not bring about any change.

The minister said he would apply to the Dewan Rakyat to have RTM allowed to telecast live his session with the PAC over the RM1.6 million payment to South Korean pop groups for their performance at last year’s National Youth Day celebrations. 

(The 2012 report of the Auditor General had stated that the Youth and Sports Ministry spent RM1.6 million to bring in three South Korean pop groups for the National Youth Day celebrations last year when it was claimed that that the cost had been covered by sponsors.) 

Ahmad Shabery said it was uncertain if the proposal to have the live coverage would be in contravention of the existing procedures. However, he felt that if the rules were outdated, they should be changed.

He said that like other ministers or ministries, he could not explain everything that was raised in the Auditor General’s report, and the opportunity to answer to the PAC and have it televised live could change the negative perception of the public.

He also said that he hoped that the people would not misinterpret that everything mentioned in the Auditor General’s report was a crime because much of these involved questions of prudent spending or decisions taken.

“I do not think that these can be associated with crime. However, I am open to answering the people’s questions pertaining to my integrity and trust on the decisions made,” he said. — Bernama