KUALA LUMPUR: Newly-appointed Public Accounts Committee (PAC) top chiefs are urging for transparency in its proceedings.
PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsuddin said current Dewan Rakyat rules did not allow for the proceedings of the PAC meeting to be publicly open.
"We believe that the PAC proceedings should be held public to ensure it is done transparently; with accountability and credibility aligned with the institution's reformation agenda which is the government's main focus," read a joint statement issued by Mas Ermieyati and her deputy Kluang member of parliament Wong Shu Qi.
Mas Ermieyati, who is Masjid Tanah MP, also called for Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul to urgently appoint 12 members of the committee which should consist of eight government backbenchers and four from the opposition.
"It is so that we can perform our duties to inspect the public financial procedures and ensure the public funds are spent properly, in a prudent and efficient manner," she said.
Mas Ermieyati and Wong were expected to meet up with all ex-officio PAC from the Finance Ministry, Economy Ministry, Attorney- General's Chambers, Public Service Department, National Audit Department, National Accounts Department and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to discuss the direction of the committee and matters relevant.
"Wong and I also agreed that our first assignment as the 15th Parliament PAC to hold a working visit to Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Bhd's (BHIC) at Lumut, Perak, to obtain the latest developments on the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) owned by the Navy which was due to report every three months to the PAC," she said.
The appointments of Mas Ermieyati and Wong were made today and received the August house's full endorsement.
