London meet eye-opener on best PAC practices

October 26, 2017, Thursday Jonathan Chia, reporters@theborneopost.com

Aidel (second row, third left), See (second row, left) and other members of the delegation in a photo call during their visit to the House of Commons.

Aidel (third left), See (second right) and other members of the delegation touring the House of Commons.

KUCHING: The opportunity to attend the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies 5th Annual Public Accounts Committee Symposium in London from Oct 16 to 17 has provided invaluable exposure to the best practices of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the eight Sarawakian PAC members.

The Sarawakian PAC delegation, led by its chairman Aidel Lariwoo, comprised Mohd Chee Kadir, Chiew Chiu Sing, Datuk Ranum Mina, Yussibnosh Balo, Lo Khere Chiang, See Chee How and Alexander Vincent.

Besides the eight Sarawakian PAC members, the delegation also comprised Sarawak PAC secretary Semawi Mohamad, ex-officio members Datu Jumastapha Lamat, Toiayah Tioh, Grace Hii Hui Hing and Antonio Kahti Galis.

Aidel said he was delighted by the way the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament manages its PAC.
“I’m confident that we can emulate and copy the way UK PAC is conducted such as their proceedings, witness and public hearing. We can enhance ours to suit our State Legislative Assembly (DUN) system,” the Sadong Jaya assemblyman

told The Borneo Post yesterday when asked on what the PAC members had learnt during the trip.
In citing an example, Aidel said they were briefed that the UK Parliament authorises some £734 billion of public revenue expenditure per annum.

“Their capital expenditure amounts to £120 billion. (The) Two components are departmental expenditure limit and annual managed expenditure (just like our current and development expenditures). How their money is spent is critical to determine the delivery of government.”
Aidel said out of this huge budget, only £702 million is lost through fraud and corruption per annum.
“So as we leap into developed country status, this is the proportion we want to achieve. We need to address this issue very seriously here.”

He noted that there are some common obstacles to prudent spending like procurement, governance, fraud/corruption, weak public finance management, wastage, performance management, culture/behaviour, efficiency and effectiveness.

“If we can manage all these prudently, I believe our financial management overall can be enhanced to greater heights.”

Meanwhile, See gave credit to the former PACs which had been playing their conventional and customary roles very well, contributing commendably in the performance of the functions of the Sarawak State Assembly for effective financial scrutiny and accountability of public expenditure.

“Through the sharing of country experiences, we are able to better understand the development of current challenges and new benchmarks in practices, the need to enhance and procure necessary resources and support which will better and improve the performance of our present PAC,” the Batu Lintang assemblyman said.

In general, See said they were intrigued and motivated by the standards of practice which were promoted and shared with them.

“With necessary modifications, these practices will help to promote transparency, accountability and public service improvements, and it will in turn promote good governance.”

See said learning about the best PAC work practices in the Commonwealth is timely, as the DUN will have added responsibilities and tasks with the foreseeable success in the talk with Putrajaya for devolution of powers to Sarawak’s administration.

“With the added administrative, legislative and fiscal autonomy, the PAC will have to play a vital role in the upkeep of our exemplary standard of prudent financial management in Sarawak.

“For the PAC, our performance will be measured by the level of public confidence in PAC to maintain and enhance the transparency and accountability of public expenditure. On the other hand, it will also be expected that the PAC will make sound and judicious recommendations to improve public service delivery.”

See noted that Aidel had suggested and it had been agreed by all of the PAC members and the officials who attended the symposium that they would soon meet to make reports and recommendations to the state government and the DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar with a view to better and improve the performance of the present PAC.