PAC chief issues stern warning
Aidel says new committee will keep watch over accounts, spending of government depts
Aidel Lariwoo
KUCHING: The State Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will not hesitate to refer civil servants who abuse their positions to the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and censure those who fail to prevent wastage in government spending.
This warning came from the chairman of the newly appointed committee BN Sadong Jaya state assemblyman Aidel Lariwoo when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.
Aidel disclosed that he planned to call for the first meeting of the committee he heads in January to chart out the plan of action for the whole year.
“We will carry out our duties as required of us and we will act without fear and favour. As a government watchdog, it’s our task to ensure the accounts and spending of all government department and its agencies are proper.
“If there is a need for public hearing we will call the parties concerned to explain and try to fix the shortcomings. But for the serious ones, we will have no choice but to refer them to the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC),” warned Aidel.
Lo Khere Chiang
The new bipartisan PAC headed by Aidel comprises state elected representatives Lo Khere Chiang (BN -Batu Kitang), Dato Ranum Mina (BN-Opar), Chiew Chiu Sing (DAP-Tanjung Batu), Alexander Vincent (BN-Ngemah), Aidel Lariwoo (BN-Sadong Jaya), Yussibnosh Balo (BN-Tellian) and See Chee How (PKR-Batu Lintang).
Aidel who is a civil engineer by training said the PAC would work with the Auditor General and other government departments and agencies in ensuring transparency and integrity in the public sector.
Meanwhile, Lo who is also the chairman of Padawan Municipal Council warned state government servants to be aware of the monitoring by PAC on their conduct in discharging their duties.
“We have been elected by the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) and we are very proud of that opportunity given to us and will carry out our job with high esteem and pride. Of course we are there not to create havoc and hell for the government departments and its agencies.
“Our job is to ensure that government spending is proper and meet its objective to benefit the people of Sarawak and to ensure that there is no wastage of public funding,” Lo said yesterday.
He said as a civil engineer, he would assist in the technical aspect whenever there is a need.
“By virtue of us being elected from both the BN backbenchers as well as from the opposition speaks volume for itself,” said Lo.
Batu Lintang Assemblyman See Chee How when contacted on his appointment in the PAC was hopeful that the committee would raise the profile of PAC by actual performances.
“I am hopeful that the Committee will also pick up those matters of general public concerns and make inquiries into them. And with the good mix of seasoned PAC members and first timers, it is quite a dynamic team which I hope will raise the profile of the PAC by our actual performance in ensuring that the state’s money are well-spent for the efficient and effective delivery of public services to all Sarawakians,” said See.
He said Under Standing Order 70 (1), the PAC is a Sessional Select Committee appointed at the beginning of each session, for the examination of the following matters such as (a) the accounts of the state and the appropriation of the sums granted by Dewan to meet the public expenditure; (b) such accounts of public authorities and other bodies administering public funds as may be laid before the Dewan; (c) report of the Auditor-General laid before the Dewan in accordance with Article 107 of the Federal Constitution; (d) such other matters as the PAC may think fit, or which may be referred to the PAC by the Dewan.
See also explained that in accordance with the tradition of countries practicing parliamentary democracy, it is the role of the PAC to “scrutinise the value for money”, examining the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of public spending and generally holds the government departments, public bodies and government-owned private companies providing public services and those civil servants and employees to account for the delivery of public services.
“In developed parliamentary democracies where Departmental Select Committees were set up to monitor the various governmental departments and public or private bodies under them, and their roles include the scrutinising the merits of government policies, the PAC in those parliamentary democracies do not examine the policies,” he said.
See added that in the DUN, it has no departmental select committees, hence the PAC, the “Queen of Select Committees” as it has been conventionally regarded, has a very wide scope in terms of its roles, to examine the “how” and “why” public money has been spent.
“Most recently, the PAC of the UK Parliament held inquiry into energy policy, more specifically the levy control framework; it inquired into the financial sustainability of local authorities; It had also examined the UKTI (UK Trade & Investment) on its contracts with a private company, PA Consulting, designed to provide ‘sector specialist services’ to attract overseas investors to the UK or to facilitate UK companies exporting to overseas markets; and it held inquiry with the Department of Health on health service treatment for overseas patients, just to name a few of the long list of inquiries conducted by the PAC, whether on their own initiatives or the matters were referred to them by the UK Parliament.
At press time other members of the newly appointed PAC could not be reached for comments.
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