Dr M: Kiandee will not be asked to step down as PAC chairman even if he’s a Pakatan MP now

Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee. -Bernama filepic

PUTRAJAYA: Beluran MP Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee will not be asked to step down as Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman even though he is now a Pakatan Harapan MP.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Pakatan’s policy that the PAC chairman must be from the opposition is not something that is “institutionalised”.

“It is a matter of policy but it is not something that is institutionalised or part of the Constitution. No, I will not ask him to step down,” said Dr Mahathir at a press conference at Perdana Leadership Foundation Friday (March 15).

He was speaking during the unveiling of six new Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia elected reps from Sabah, who had joined the party after leaving Umno in December.

Kiandee, who is also former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker, was one of the four Sabah MPs who were officially accepted as Bersatu members at the event.

During the 14th General Election, Pakatan made it an election pledge to appoint an opposition lawmaker to head the PAC.

In August, while he was still with Barisan Nasional, Kiandee was appointed as the PAC chairman - the first opposition MP to helm the post in Dewan Rakyat history.

Following Kiandee’s resignation from Umno in Dec 12, Barisan had nominated Parit Sulong MP Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad to head the committee.

When asked to comment on this, Dr Mahathir said: “They will have to get majority support for that.”

Meanwhile, Dr Kiandee said he would leave his position as chairman of PAC in Dr Mahathir’s hands.

“If the prime minister says that I don’t have to resign, then I don’t have to resign. But I have no problems resigning if he asks me to,” he said to reporters.