IPOH: The state Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is seeking amendments to the Standing Order for the committee to obtain more power.
Its chairman Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin said the Perak Government should review the standing order to be on par with the main committee in Parliament.
“After visiting the committee in Parliament on Feb 15, I found that we in Perak need more powers. This is necessary to ensure the committee has better authority and to play a more effective role.
“I feel that in Perak, it has been very long since any amendments to the Enactment in relation to the PAC have been made.
“It is time to do so, as many other states have started to follow the amendments made in Parliament,” the Sungai Manik assemblyman told a press conference on the sidelines of the state assembly sitting on Monday (Feb 26).
He had raised this matter during his debate on the motion of thanks to the Royal Address earlier.
"The issue arises when some departments or agencies did not respond to the PAC's calls (for enquiry sessions).
“But in Parliament, it is different. The committee will issue a notice, and after the stipulated time, if the said parties do not turn up, a certain amount of fine is imposed.
“All we want are answers in order to make improvements and not to punish anyone, as we are not an enforcement agency,” Zainol Fadzi added.
He said he hoped after highlighting the issue, the state government would take the necessary steps to make improvements.
“This is important as the scope of the PAC is to ensure that the plans by the state government are carried out to its best according to the funds allocated,” he added.
