New PAC chairman proposes open proceedings

SHAH ALAM - The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) proceedings should be done openly to ensure they are carried out in a transparent, accountable, and credible manner.

The new PAC chairman, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, said it is in line with the institutional reform agenda that is the main focus of the current government.

"We will request the Dewan Rakyat Speaker as the chairman of the Standing Order Committee to amend Standing Order 85, which does not allow PAC proceedings to be held openly," she said in a statement today.

Mas Ermieyati also thanked the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who appointed her as chairman and Wong Shu Qi as PAC vice chairman.

She said that transparency and accountability were important to build the public's trust by making sure the government could meet the people's needs.

"We hope to work with the PAC members that will be elected to carry out the responsibilities and mandates given.

"Therefore, we request that the select committee chaired by Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat immediately appoints 12 PAC members, consisting of eight members from the government and four members from the opposition bloc, for the public financial procedures inspection task and in ensuring the public funds are spent prudently and efficiently," she said.

She added that they will meet all Ex-Officio PAC, namely the Finance Ministry, Economy Ministry, Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), the Public Service Department, the National Audit Department, the Accountant General's Department, and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as soon as possible to discuss the direction of and matters related to PAC.

"Wong and I also agree to conduct a working visit to Boustead Heavy Industries Corp (BHIC) Shipyard in Lumut, Perak, to learn about the latest development of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) that belongs to the Royal Malaysian Navy, which should have been reported to PAC every three months as the first task of the 15th Parliament PAC," she said.