MCA keeps tabs on the govt

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA has launched its Government Monitoring Committee (GMC) to keep tabs on the Pakatan Harapan government.

Party president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said 300 party members with professional qualifications had been picked for the task, adding that half of those who had offered their services were aged below 40.

The GMC will serve in nine different units to monitor the performance of all ministries, he said, adding that the members included experts in law, economics, environment and other fields.

“They have expressed willingness to serve and monitor the government’s performance,” Dr Wee told a press conference after launching the body at Wisma MCA yesterday.

The units are National Affairs and Defence; Economic and Trade Development; Infrastructure and Development; Local Government and Urban and Rural Development; Education and Human Resource Development; Health and Environ-mental Protection; Communications and Multimedia; Women, Family, Community Development and National Harmony; and Youth and Sports.

“We have identified and laid out the work scope for each unit so that they can monitor each ministry in a more comprehensive way,” Dr Wee said, adding that those carrying out the monitoring work were encouraged to work with NGOs.

The Ayer Hitam MP said the GMC was aimed at making MCA more progressive and to oppose based on facts and research.

“We hope our arguments will be considered by the government,” he said, adding that MCA had appointed a coordinator to oversee the effort.

Dr Wee first announced the plan to set up the GMC during MCA’s 70th anniversary celebrations in March.

Asked if he will call for Parliament to institutionalise a shadow Cabinet, Dr Wee replied: “No. They (Pakatan) said they want to reform Parliament but a simple thing such as adhering to Parliamentary Select Committee procedure they don’t follow. So what can you expect out of it?”

On whether former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had ever discussed MACC’s top appointment with MCA, Dr Wee explained that Najib did not make any promise but that Pakatan did, and broke it.

He said any party could make a promise on reforms and get people to agree to it.

“But after getting votes from the people, he (Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) says, ‘I’ll do it my way.’

“That is his favourite song,” he said, referring to Dr Mahathir’s decision to appoint lawyer Latheefa Koya as the new Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner on the eve of Hari Raya without consulting the Cabinet.