Former higher edu minister Noraini Ahmad among 12 new PAC members

KUALA LUMPUR: Twelve new parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) members have been named by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul (pic).

"I would like to congratulate all of them as this is a huge responsibility, so please assist them," he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (May 24).

In a separate statement, PAC chairman Mas Ermieyati Samsudin welcomed the new appointments.

"All 12 are from various backgrounds including medicine, law, engineering and academia," she said.

"One of them is Dr Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) who was the former higher education minister, while Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) and Datuk Ali Biju (PN-Saratok) had served as deputy ministers," added Mas Ermie.

She said Noraini's appointment was significant as she had headed the PAC between April 2019 and March 2020.

"The experience of the PAC members, including myself, who had served as part of the administration will surely boost the PAC as well as to make it more respected and ensure that each report tabled will have an impact," she said.

At the same time, she said the role of PAC as a mechanism of checks and balances to the government, particularly in financial policies, acquisitions and governance, will be enhanced.

"I believe that all the newly-appointed PAC members will cooperate with me and Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang) as the deputy chairman to ensure that the PAC can play its role effectively," she said.

In April, Mas Ermieyati and Wong were appointed as PAC chairman and deputy chairman respectively.

The motion was proposed in the Dewan Rakyat and passed unanimously via a voice vote.

Aside from the chair and deputy, the bipartisan PAC must consist of no fewer than six and no more than 12 MPs.

This is the first time in history that the top two in the PAC – often considered the most powerful committee in Parliament – are both women.

The PAC is tasked with examining the accounts of the country, public expenditure, and the auditor-general’s reports, among others.

The committee can also look into any other matters it deems fit or referred to it by the House.

The PAC is one of five committees set out in Parliament’s Standing Orders and has the power to summon any persons, documents or records to facilitate their investigations.

Apart from Noraini, Sim and Ali, the other new members are: Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi), Vivian Wong (PH-Sandakan), Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin), Zahir Hassan (PH-Wangsa Maju), Dr Richard Rapu (GPS-Betong), Azli Mohd Yusof (PH-Shah Alam), Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu), Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik) and Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar).