DAP calls upon Najib to announce new PAC chairman

GEORGE TOWN: DAP has called upon Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to announce the name of the next Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman after the Cabinet meets this Wednesday.

Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua also urged Najib to announce the date for Parliament to convene to vote in the new chairman.

"It is important for the Prime Minister to give a commitment on when the new PAC chairman will be appointed and when Parliament will be called to appoint the chairman," the party's national publicity secretary said in a press conference today.

Also present was Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Gelang Patah MP and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang and Kluang MP and Johor party chief Liew Chin Tong.

PAC investigations into financial dealings surrounding sovereign strategic fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) were halted after four of its members were elevated to the Cabinet in a recent reshuffle.

They comprised former PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, appointed Deputy Home Minister; Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister; Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Tourism and Culture Deputy Minister; and Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister.

Kit Siang also proposed Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw of the DAP to chair the PAC, noting PACs in first world Parliaments were chaired by opposition members.

Guan Eng meanwhile said former Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, dropped in the reshuffle, was acceptable to the Opposition if Tan was not voted in.

Other Barisan Nasional (BN) names mentioned included recently axed Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former Finance Minister Tan Sri Tengku Razeleigh Hamzah.
Meanwhile, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar has called on the relevant authorities to allow investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on funds in SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary under 1MDB to proceed without any further interference.
Nurul Izzah also called on newly appointed Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali to shed some light regarding the authenticity of the draft charge sheet which allegedly contained corruption charges against Najib.
"Given that the two MACC senior officers have been reinstated, there is a stronger need for us to push for the probe to be continued as well as all questions raised pertaining to the charge sheet to be answered," she told reporters outside of the Sungai Buloh prison, where opposition de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is currently serving his jail term for sodomy.