KUALA LUMPUR: Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull will be summoned to face the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) soon.
Newly-appointed PAC chairman Datuk Noraini Ahmad has made it her first order of business to summon the two to have their statements heard over the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) land transaction case.
MACC had previously probed the sale of 64 land parcels by DBKL, of which 48 were cleared by the commission as of July 18 last year.
Noraini, who is Parit Sulong MP, said the two will give their statements on April 23 when PAC resumes its proceedings on the case.
“Both have already agreed to attend the proceedings and give their statements,” she told a press conference in Parliament today..
Noraini replaces Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PH - Beluran) as the new PAC chief.
The motion to appoint Noraini, tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong in the Dewan Rakyat, was agreed in unison by all government and opposition members of parliament.
Meanwhile, Noraini, who is the first woman to become PAC chief, said she does not expect her job to be easy, hence she was seeking support from the committee members.
"Ever since I joined the committee in December, we have been working very well by leaving our party differences aside.
"We focus on what we have in front of us and work together as a team. In PAC, we strive for a consensus and we will continue to do it together," she said.
Present at the press conference were Kiandee, vice-chairman Wong Kah Woh and members Nurul Izzah Anwar and Wong Chen, among others.
Asked on new PAC members following Kiandee’s departure, Noraini said Umno would suggest a name.
“The same goes with PKR. They will suggest a name following the departure of William Leong.”
Meanwhile, Kiandee at the press conference thanked all the committee members for their cooperation.
"During my tenure as PAC chairman, I chaired 38 proceedings and forwarded two reports to Parliament.
"Now, we are at the final stage of the Goods and Services Tax refunds, which Noraini will continue.”
Kiandee said there were two items which were still overdue - amendments to Section 85 of the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat to open the proceedings to the public, and to debate the PAC report in the Parliament.
"We want people to take PAC reports seriously. Hence, with Noraini’s appointment, we hope to elevate PAC to another level."
Asked if he would join the committee as a member, Kiandee replied: "It is not for me to decide that as it will be decided by the party."