The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) calls into question the choice of Umno MPs Ahmad Maslan and Noh Omar as appointed members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), two of 12 MPs appointed on 3 November.
C4 Center would like to point out the purpose of PAC is to provide checks and balances on the government and to enforce transparency in transactions.
However, the appointment of the two named MPs seems counter-intuitive to the spirit and role of the PAC.
The severe issue comes from Ahmad Maslan being charged with money laundering, after he failed to state his real income on the RM2m he received from former Prime Minister Najib Razak in his income tax return form for 2013, thus violating Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967. He has since withdrawn his appeal after failing to overturn the charge.
It is not only laughable, but ultimately alarming that someone being charged with poor transparency and governance is being appointed to a committee meant for maintaining good governance and upholding transparency.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
At the same time, equally alarming is the appointment of Noh Omar, the MP who had previously noted that stealing is only a crime if you get caught. The exact quote used in the 4 April 2019 parliamentary session was that “stealing is not wrong, only when you are arrested it becomes wrong”.
The analogy, while given in the spirit of emphasising that someone is innocent until proven guilty, is worded in a way that is alarming and ultimately suspect for the purposes of the PAC.
For Parliament to maintain any credibility for itself and the PAC, Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun has to reconsider the appointment of these two particular MPs in the committee. Surely Umno has other MPs who would be better able to represent the party in the committee.
Continuing with the appointment would only bring into question the integrity and trustworthiness of the PAC as a whole, thus jeopardising the role the PAC plays in championing transparency in government.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Come on, C4 – let’s be realistic!
The Speaker is but a hireling of the backdoor PM.
I am sure that 2 appointed PAC chairmen are there as part of the dedak for them to support the backdoor govt.
The PACs even during the doomed PH rule were not effective – so there is no need to hope they will perform any real Parliamentary function.
Let them enjoy their dedak.
No mention was made of Najib’s appointment as Backbencher’s Club Chairman. If he can function as an MP, yes, I grudge him not his appointment. But, to me, it shows the low level of morality of the BN Backbenchers Club to allow a convicted criminal lead them. Please, don’t give me the nonsense that Najib is appealing – the [findings] overseas related to 1MDB point to his crime!!