Azmi Khalid picked to be new chairman of PAC
The Star (14/5/08): Former minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid has been proposed as the new chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, taking over from Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad.
In the motion tabled by the Prime Minister, Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP - Kepong) is re-nominated to the deputy chairman’s post.
However, the motion may still get rejected if enough Opposition members are unhappy over the composition of the committee as it now has 81 members in contrast to 77 backbenchers.
The Opposition has previously made known its stand that the chairmanship of the committee – which looks into allegations of misuse of public funds – should be from their bloc.
Before 2004, both the chairman and deputy's posts were held by backbenchers but this was changed when Dr Tan was given the deputy’s post.
When asked, Azmi said he was surprised that he was named, and said it would be difficult to emulate the previous chairman Shahrir, who has been appointed minister.
“I am willing to work together with all PAC members in a constructive manner as it is a very important select committee as we are expected to look into how public expenditure is spent.
Dr Tan said the names had been agreed among party members earlier and there would be no point for the names to be debated in the Dewan again.
Party stalwart Lim Kit Siang (DAP - Ipoh Timur) said it was “still too early” for the Opposition to come to a decision on the motion.
Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS - Kuala Krai) said Pakatan Rakyat members “would be coming up with something” and that it had “something planned”.
In another motion, the Prime Minister has also proposed for the setting up of a seven-member select committee under Standing Order 76 for the new Parliament.
The committee, which will be chaired by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin, will see that the running of the Dewan is according to rules set out under the Standing Orders.
Other members are Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting (BN - Kulai), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas, Human Resources Minister Datuk S. Subramaniam and Opposition Leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
In the motion tabled by the Prime Minister, Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP - Kepong) is re-nominated to the deputy chairman’s post.
However, the motion may still get rejected if enough Opposition members are unhappy over the composition of the committee as it now has 81 members in contrast to 77 backbenchers.
The Opposition has previously made known its stand that the chairmanship of the committee – which looks into allegations of misuse of public funds – should be from their bloc.
Before 2004, both the chairman and deputy's posts were held by backbenchers but this was changed when Dr Tan was given the deputy’s post.
When asked, Azmi said he was surprised that he was named, and said it would be difficult to emulate the previous chairman Shahrir, who has been appointed minister.
“I am willing to work together with all PAC members in a constructive manner as it is a very important select committee as we are expected to look into how public expenditure is spent.
Dr Tan said the names had been agreed among party members earlier and there would be no point for the names to be debated in the Dewan again.
Party stalwart Lim Kit Siang (DAP - Ipoh Timur) said it was “still too early” for the Opposition to come to a decision on the motion.
Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS - Kuala Krai) said Pakatan Rakyat members “would be coming up with something” and that it had “something planned”.
In another motion, the Prime Minister has also proposed for the setting up of a seven-member select committee under Standing Order 76 for the new Parliament.
The committee, which will be chaired by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin, will see that the running of the Dewan is according to rules set out under the Standing Orders.
Other members are Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting (BN - Kulai), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas, Human Resources Minister Datuk S. Subramaniam and Opposition Leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
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