PSC may call witnesses over share trading scandal

PETALING JAYA: The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) may call up individuals in connection with the stock-trading scandal involving Malaysian Anti-Corruption (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

PKR’s Selayang MP William Leong, who is part of the eight-member Select Committee for Agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department, said he would make the suggestion during the meeting next Wednesday.

“That is what I will ask for and we will discuss the matter,” he said when contacted.

Leong said a PSC has the prerogative to summon ministry officials and individuals to scrutinise and make inquiries into issues of public importance.

“Then, we will table a report to Parliament,” he said.

“Whether or not officers and ministries have been doing their work, this will be made known for the people to evaluate,” Leong added.

He also said no voting was required among committee members as select committees only hold discussions prior to making decisions.

“But there’s always a first time,” he said.

Leong previously chaired the PSC on major appointments.

Among these was when he probed Latheefa Koya’s appointment as the then MACC chief commissioner.

Azam replaced Latheefa in March 2020 after she resigned.

PAS’ Kuala Krai MP Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman, who is chairing the eight-member PSC for Agencies, could not be reached for comment.

Umno’s Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, when contacted, said: “I don’t remember (being in the committee). I can’t comment.”

According to the Parliament’s official website updated on Oct 13 last year, Tajuddin was a member along with Parit MP Datuk Mohd Nizar Zakaria and Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin.

The select committee for Agencies was part of the eight new select committees announced in August 2018 by former speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof under the former Pakatan Harapan government to monitor key government ministries and issues.

Select committees have the prerogative to summon witnesses and hold hearings to scrutinise how Putrajaya spends taxpayers’ money.

Previously, scandals such as the 1MDB and the Port Klang Free Trade Zone, among others, were heard before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is one of the select committees that regularly probes topical government controversies prior to Pakatan’s rule in 2018.

In July 2017, former speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia caught public flak for refusing to allow any debates in Parliament after the PAC tabled its report.

Pandikar had said because the PAC spent the last two years investigating the 1MDB scandal, all discussions into the controversy should come to an end.

Presently, the Parliament has special select committees on Fundamental Liberty and Constitutional Rights; Finance and Economy; Security; Agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department; Agriculture and Domestic Trade; Infrastructure Development; Education; Women and Children Affairs and Social Development; Health Science and Innovation; and International Affairs.

In Dec 13 last year, the PAC tabled its report to Parliament, where it found that a RM2.07bil land deal involving Bank Negara in connection with a rationalisation plan involving 1MDB in 2017 was done hastily and without proper due diligence.