KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 — Three Opposition lawmakers resigned from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today in protest of Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee's retention as the chairman.
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said they will not participate in the committee until one among their ranks is chosen to head the parliamentary watchdog.
The three who resigned are Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah (BN-Jasin), Datuk Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) and Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS-Kota Baru).
“All the three MPs in PAC have resigned immediately, and we give full power (to Pakatan Harapan) if that is what the ruling government wants.
“We see this as an abuse of the promise, and even though we know other promises were not fulfilled, we had hoped the chairman’s post will be given to the Opposition as part of parliamentary reforms,” he told a press conference in Parliament here today.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) is under pressure to replace Kiandee as the coalition pledged in its election manifesto to reserve the PAC chairman’s role for an Opposition lawmaker.
When asked about Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming’s statement earlier that the PAC should complete its ongoing proceedings before appointing a new chief, Ismail disagreed.
He pointed out that they had already nominated Noraini as Kiandee’s replacement and as she was already in the know about the proceedings there was no need to delay the appointment of the new PAC chief.
“That is why we had nominated her because she is already a PAC member. She does not need to be debriefed on the cases because she is already in the know.
“Unless if they are suggesting a new candidate, then that may raise an issue,” said the Bera MP, adding that the MPs will send in their resignation notice following the announcement made.
Meanwhile, Takiyuddin, who was present at the press conference, said the prime minister does not need to find a new candidate as the candidate would be selected from the Opposition.
“Umno has the most numbers in the Opposition, so they have the right to choose the candidate for the PAC chairman,” he said.
Earlier, Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa had suggested that Federal lawmakers from Umno and other Opposition parties in the PAC should withdraw to protest the retention of Ronald Kiandee as the chairman.
He said failure to replace the Beluran MP was a clear departure from the PH election manifesto that pledged to reserve the role for the Opposition.
