PAC tables maiden report, creates Dewan Rakyat history

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat today made history when the report of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was presented and discussed during the session for the first time.

The report on Training Fund Management and Effectiveness of the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) was tabled by PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin and debated by four Members of Parliament.

Datuk Indera Mohd Shahar Abdullah (BN-Paya Besar) when opening the debate congratulated Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul for allowing explanations to be made by PAC and the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC).

"Congratulations to the PAC chairman and the entire PAC committee for not waiting for the Auditor General's report to take this proceeding, an action that goes a long way forward," he said.

Yesterday, Johari said the PAC and the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) would be allowed to present their respective reports in the Dewan Rakyat to give the people better understanding and it was also part of the effort to raise the level of accountability of the Dewan Rakyat.

PAC member Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) also expressed his appreciation to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker for his openness in giving the PAC the opportunity to present its report in the Dewan Rakyat.

Meanwhile, Mas Ermieyati during the winding-up session said her team would pay attention to the proposal that the PAC also call proceedings on the issue of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd's (MAHB) shareholding.

"For the issue raised by the member for Putrajaya, I think not only Putrajaya but many honourable members recommended to PAC to look at MAHB, for PAC to come in and God willing we will take note of that matter," she said.

She was responding to a suggestion of Datuk Radji Jidin (PN-Putrajaya) for the MAHB issue to be brought into the PAC proceedings immediately.

"The HRD Corp is a historical fact, something that has happened, we will see how to move forward, this is the same as the 1MDB case, I remember reading the 1MDB report that was done by the PAC and that has passed, that's why I want to suggest to the PAC chairman bring to PAC the issue related to the sale of 30 per cent shares of MAHB to a foreign company," said Radzi when debating the PAC report.

-- BERNAMA

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