Govt cannot stop PAC probe, says Dahlan
Published on: Monday, August 03, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The promotion of four members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to the Federal Cabinet will not derail the investigation into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), said Barisan Nasional (BN) Strategic Communication Director, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan."The answer is absolutely not. The government has no power to stop any investigation by parliament. Once it has started, it can only be stopped when the PAC has made a conclusion and presented the same to the members of Dewan Rakyat. "PAC doesn't stop its function or investigation just because some of the MPs have ceased being members. Such, in brief, on how PAC operates," he said commenting on the opposition crying foul over the decision by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to appoint four of the PAC members as minister and deputy minister in the recent cabinet reshuffle.
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The four were former PAC chairman, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohammed, Datuk Madius Tangau, Datuk Reezal Merican and Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.Abdul Rahman doubted that the PAC would be crippled just because four of its members have been promoted to the front bench. "PAC has been around since independence and remains the beacon of parliamentary democracy. They will continue to be so as long as parliament is still functioning in our country," he said.Abdul Rahman who is also Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister pointed out that the four were appointed not because they were members of PAC, but in their capacity as Members of Parliament.
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"They were chosen due to their abilities and position in their respective party," he said.In the case of Tangau, he said he is the acting president of Upko and by convention the president of a BN component party should be in the cabinet, said Abdul Rahman.
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"If the Prime MInister did not appoint him last week, he then would be sending a wrong signal to Upko members. In essence it would be interpreted that the central leadership does not respect Upko members' choice. "As Sabah BN Secretary, I am of the view that it is a wrong political move for the Prime Minister to deny the president of an important component party in Sabah of a position in the cabinet," he said.Tangau was appointed as the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation replacing Datuk Ewon Ebin who is an appointed vice president of Upko.Abdul Rahman said the appointment of Reezal Merican as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs was also appropriate in view of his vast knowledge in international economics investment and finance, social, Middle Eastern history and Islamic jurisprudence.He said Reezal known as a prolific MP whom he had known for more than 10 years would give Malaysia an edge in international relation, especially in terms of the country's relation with the Middle East where his command of Arabic language is a big plus.For Mas Ermieyati who is also Puteri Umno Malaysia chief, Abdul Rahman said it had been a long-held tradition of Umno that the movement's head be at the front bench. "All Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, Datuk Noraini Ahmad and Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin were all part of the front bench when they helmed Puteri Umno," he said, adding that coupled with her strong background in law, it was almost given that Mas Ermieyati must be in the front bench.Ermieyati was appointed as Tourism and Culture Deputy Minister.Understandably, Abdul Rahman said the most criticised appointment was that of the PAC's ex-Chairman, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohammed as the Deputy Home Minister."The stream of criticism and ridicule raised by the opposition on his appointment is swift and constant. After all, he was smacked right in the eye of the 1MDB storm and was expected to lead a rigorous investigation on 1MDB. "Yet despite this protest, I strongly believe we must be fair to him," he said.Abdul Rahman said he was appointed to the PAC together with Nur Jazlan in 2008. "While I was lucky to be given the opportunity to serve the country as a cabinet minister in 2013, he was unfortunately not, and as a consequence thereof, a lot of his supporters and constituents find him "languishing" in his political career – especially when this is his eighth year serving as a PAC member."Missing that 2013 cabinet formation was not the first time. Datuk Nur Jazlan actually, in total, has missed six opportunities to be appointed to the front bench throughout his career as an MP."The first time was when the cabinet formation was announced shortly after 11th General Election in 2004, while the second time was during the cabinet reshuffle by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Feb 2006. The third time was the cabinet formed immediately after 12th General Election in 2008, while the fourth was when Najib took over the premiership from Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2009. The fifth time was the cabinet formation right after the 13th General Election in 2013 and the sixth time was when Najib made a slight cabinet reshuffle in 2014, he said."The question that begs to be answered, is it fair to deny him the opportunity to advance his political career for the seventh time?" asked Abdul Rahman.According to him, Nur Jazlan was born into a political family as his father was the late Tan Sri Mohammad Rahmat who was a federal minister and the Secretary General of Umno. "But after all, to honestly sum it up, it is a dream of every MP to be able to serve his or her country. What better way to do that than becoming one of the cabinet members as ministers or deputy ministers. "I say let us allow Nur Jazlan to move up his career ladder with open heart and mind. He, his supporters and his constituents, after all, deserve it! If he missed the last cabinet reshuffle, the next available opportunity for him is after 14th General Election or 2018. That is a long three years from now," he said.Abdul Rahman also reminded that the PAC can be easily reconstituted. "That is not a problem. It won't take long, at most two months since parliament will meet in October to decide on the new chairman and replacement members of PAC. "I am sure the new chairman will pick up where Nur Jazlan has left off with ease. Above all, PAC should never be doubted as the kernel of truth in our parliament democracy," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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