PUTRAJAYA: It is unlikely that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would be upset if Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee relinquished his chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin said the Beluran federal lawmaker should be able to read the signs, regardless if whether the prime minister had said that Kiandee could remain as chairman until a suitable replacement was found.
"I think if he (Kiandee) resigns, I do not think Tun (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) will be angry or upset. You have to be able to read the signs, sometimes."
Hanipa said Kiandee should have taken the initiative by resigning.
“That is my opinion. Once he joined the government, he has to know our manifesto. Whether you like it or not, you have to comply,” he said when met at his office here on Friday.
Hanipa said this when elaborating on measures taken to restore Parliament’s dignity, including the formation of six Parliament Select Committees (PSCs) comprising representatives from the government and the opposition.
“The PAC is usually checked by the opposition and now the said opposition (Kiandee) has crossed over to the government side (by joining Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia).
"Of course, I think you are aware that Tun (Dr Mahathir) had given a statement on this. But, everybody seems not very happy, which I believe is the reason why it needs to be resolved soon," he said.
The appointment of an opposition as the chairman of the PAC was part of the Pakatan Harapan manifesto in the 14th General Election.
Kiandee, a former deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker, has yet to relinquish his post even after repeated calls made by other government representatives for him to resign.
Among the lawmakers who made the call are Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar, Lim Lip Eng (Kepong) and Hannah Yeoh (Segambut).
On Wednesday, Kiandee said he would leave the fate of his PAC chairmanship post to Dr Mahathir and he was open to being replaced.
The PAC chairman said he would abide by the prime minister's decision to have him replaced once a new chairman had been identified.
Nurul Izzah quit the PAC on March 23, this was followed by three other opposition PAC members - Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong), Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah (BN-Jasin) and Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS-Kota Bharu) - following the PAC leadership issue.
The PAC comprises of a Chairman and Vice-Chairman to be appointed by the Dewan Rakyat. It is made up of no less than six and not more than 12 members who are nominated by the Dewan Rakyat’s Committee of Selection.
Members of the PAC are appointed at the beginning of every Parliament, for the examination of:
• the accounts of the Federation and the appropriation of the sums granted by Parliament to meet the public expenditure;
• the accounts of public authorities and other bodies administering public funds, as may be laid before the House of Representatives; and
• Reports of the Auditor-General, laid before the House of representatives in accordance with Article 107 of the Federal Constitution.