KUALA LUMPUR: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is in the midst of completing proceedings related to the Covid-19 management and Felcra Bhd, which require witnesses to attend the scheduled hearings, says its chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.
According to her, issues regarding the management of Covid-19 outbreak, expired vaccines, unusable ventilator equipment and surplus of personal protective equipment (PPE) have yet to be resolved.
The same goes for proceedings of the Minister of Finance (Incorporated) on Felcra Bhd, which Mas Ermieyati said involved the agency's former secretary-general, former chairman and ex-board of directors.
“My previous statement was a reminder to all PAC witnesses, especially former high government officials, to always be ready to attend the PAC hearing when summoned.
“The PAC does not want to use the powers under Section 9 (a) of the House of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 [Act 347] because it will have a negative impact on the individuals involved including the possibility of arrest if the fine is not paid.
“However, the PAC will not hesitate to use the powers provided under the relevant Act to ensure that the credibility of this committee is maintained,” she said in a statement on Friday (Aug 18).
On Thursday (Aug 17), Mas Ermieyati said witnesses who refuse to attend PAC hearings, especially former high-ranking civil servants, would be publicly named.
She said that many of the PAC proceedings involved witnesses comprising former top government officials, especially control officers and secretaries-general, who were in charge of ministries, departments or government agencies that were mentioned in the Auditor-General’s Report.
Their presence, she added, is important to ensure that all issues raised in the report are given proper explanation.
Following that, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali warned that failure of any serving or former high-ranking civil servants to appear before the PAC can be considered contempt of Parliament.
“The PAC welcomes the statement made by Zuki that all serving and former government officers must cooperate with the PAC,” Mas Ermieyati added.
“The PAC has never had a problem with the absence of former high-ranking government officials. For example, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, former chief secretary of the Treasury attended the PAC proceedings in 2018 and Tan Sri Dr Abdul Aziz Jaafar, former commander of the Royal Malaysian Navy was present in 2021.
“These two people were still present even though they were retired and cooperated in the proceedings held by PAC.
“In fact, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak appeared before the PAC in 2018 to give an explanation to this committee, in addition to former Agriculture and Food Industry minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee who was present to give an explanation in 2021.”
