Public Accounts Committee (Malaysia) Explained
The Public Accounts Committee (Malay: Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara) (PAC) is a select committee of the House of Representatives in the Parliament of Malaysia. The PAC derives its powers from the Dewan Rakyat which chooses the committee chairperson and deputy chairperson. Based on Standing Order 77(1), the PAC has the power to examine the accounts of the Malaysian government, the accounts of all public authorities, the reports of the auditor-general, and any other matters that "the committee may think fit" or matters referred to the PAC by the Dewan Rakyat.
Since 2018, the PAC has always made decisions by consensus. The PAC is a bi-partisan committee composed of two members from DAP, Bersatu, PAS, and UMNO with one member each from PKR, Amanah, Warisan and PBB.[1]
Mandate
- Examine the accounts of the Federation and the appropriation of the sums granted by Parliament to meet the public expenditure.
- Examine such accounts of public authorities and other bodies administering public funds as may be laid before the House of Representatives.
- Examine reports of the Auditor-General laid before the House of Representatives in accordance with Article 107 of the Federal Constitution.
- Examine such other matters as the Committee may think fit, or which may be referred to the Committee by the House of Representatives.
- Review and report on the Public Accounts of Malaysia.
- Examine all reports of the Auditor General of Malaysia.
Investigations
The PAC's primary instrument is conducting hearings. The first step is to invite the controlling officer of the government ministry related to the investigation subject. If the officer's explanation suffices, the matter ends there. If not, the PAC will summon the cabinet minister and, if necessary, other witnesses such as the National Audit Department or project contractors. Complicated cases such as the LCS Saga required 10 hearing days and 21 witnesses.
Once the hearings are concluded, the PAC secretariat will begin a three-stage drafting process. Firstly, the secretariat will compile a report based on the Hansard (official parliamentary transcripts) and start writing a draft report. The second stage involves a "housekeeping meeting", where the secretariat will read out the entire report for the PAC's scrutiny. Any amendments will be done at this stage which is why the report takes many days to finalise. Every decision is by consensus. There were no heated arguments because facts and figures are being presented to all members. Everyone has the freedom to air their views. Eventually, the PAC will reach a consensus. Once the final draft is completed, the third stage involves a final verification process where PAC members will be given a chance to go through the entire report one more time before it goes to print.[1]
Membership
15th Parliament
14th Parliament
13th Parliament
| Party | Member | Position | Constituency | Term start | Term end |
|---|
| | BN (UMNO) | | Chairman | | 19 October 2015[30] | 7 April 2018 |
| | BN (UMNO) | | Chairman | | 18 July 2013 | 27 July 2015[31] [32] |
| | | | Deputy Chairman | | 18 July 2013 | 7 April 2018 |
| | | | Member | | 26 September 2013[33] | 7 April 2018 |
| | BN (UMNO) | | Member | | 19 October 2015 | 7 April 2018 |
| | BN (MCA) | | Member | | 18 July 2013[34] | 25 June 2014[35] |
| | BN (PBB) | | Member | | 18 July 2013 | 7 April 2018 |
| | BN (UMNO) | | Member | | 19 October 2015 | 7 April 2018 |
| | | | Member | | 19 October 2015 | 7 April 2018 |
| | | | Member | | 26 September 2013 | 27 July 2015[36] |
| | BN (MCA) | | Member | | 19 October 2015 | 7 April 2018 |
| | | | Member | | 26 September 2013 | 7 April 2018 |
| | BN (Gerakan) | | Member | | 18 July 2013 | 7 April 2018 |
| | BN (UPKO) | | Member | | 19 October 2015[37] | 7 April 2018 |
| | BN (UMNO) | | Member | | 18 July 2013 | 27 July 2015[38] |
| | | | Member | | 26 September 2013 | 7 April 2018 |
| | BN (UMNO) | | Member | | | 27 July 2015[39] |
| | BN (UMNO) | | Member | | 18 July 2013 | 7 April 2018 |
| | BN (UPKO) | | Member | | 18 July 2013 | 27 July 2015[40] |
| | BN (MCA) | | Member | | 18 July 2013 | 7 April 2018 |
|
12th Parliament
11th Parliament
10th Parliament
9th Parliament
8th Parliament
| Party | Member | Constituency | Date of appointment |
|---|
| | BN (UMNO) | Affifudin Omar, chairman | Padang Terap | 5 December 1990 |
| | BN (UMNO) | Mohd. Zihin Mohd. Hassan, vice chairman | Larut | 5 December 1990 | |
7th Parliament
| Party | Member | Constituency | Date of appointment |
|---|
| | BN (UMNO) | Abdul Hadi Derani, vice chairman | Kota Setar | 8 October 1986 |
| | BN (UMNO) | Ismail Said, chairman | Kemaman | 8 October 1986 | |
6th Parliament
| Party | Member | Constituency | Date of appointment |
|---|
| | BN (UMNO) | Daud Taha, vice chairman | Batu Pahat | 12 October 1982 |
| | BN (MCA) | Oo Gin Sun, chairman | Alor Setar | 12 October 1982 | |
5th Parliament
| Party | Member | Constituency | Date of appointment |
|---|
| | BN (MCA) | Lee Boon Peng, chairman | Mantin | 12 October 1978 |
| | BN (UMNO) | Mohd. Bakri Abdul Rais, vice chairman | Parit | 12 October 1978 | |
4th Parliament
2nd Parliament
1st Parliament
Notes and References
- News: Tan Hong Kai . Andrew Ong . September 30, 2022 . Giving PAC its bite back - the body that unravelled LCS scandal . MalaysiaKini . 30 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220930083251/https://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.malaysiakini.com/read4free/637655/2sG39B10a . 30 September 2022 .
- Web site: 12 Parliament PAC members named. The Star (Malaysia). 25 March 2019. 12 August 2018. Hemananthani Sivanandam.
- [Noraini Ahmad]
- Web site: BN, PAS members of PAC to resign until chief replaced. Malaysiakini. 25 March 2019. 25 March 2019. Ng Xiang Yi.
- [Noraini Ahmad]
- Web site: Parit Sulong MP Dr Noraini Ahmad is new PAC chairman after voice vote. 11 April 2019. 11 April 2019. The Star (Malaysia). Martin Carvalho, Hemananthani Sivanandam, Rahimy Rahim, and Tarrence Tan.
- Web site: Malaysia, for the first time, appoints opposition MP as head of key Public Accounts Committee. Straits Times. 25 March 2019. 7 August 2018.
- [Ronald Kiandee]
- Web site: Fresh from Sabah Umno exit, Kiandee says will stay as PAC chairman. Malay Mail. 12 December 2018. 4 April 2019. Julia Chan.
- [Ronald Kiandee]
- Web site: Eight ex-Sabah Umno leaders join Bersatu. 15 March 2019. 4 April 2019. The Sun (Malaysia).
- Web site: Razak. Radzi. Speaker appoints new Public Accounts Committee members Malay Mail. 2020-11-03. www.malaymail.com.
- [Nurul Izzah Anwar]
- Web site: Nurul Izzah to serve her final term as MP, quits PAC. Malay Mail. 22 March 2019. 25 March 2019. Danial Dzulkifly.
- [Nurul Izzah Anwar]
- Web site: Citing reform agenda, Nurul Izzah rejoins PAC. Malaysiakini. 4 April 2019. 4 April 2019.
- [Leader of the Opposition (Malaysia)|Leader of the Opposition]
- Web site: Ismail Sabri unsure if Opposition MPs officially quit PAC. Malay Mail. 28 March 2019. Ida Nadirah Ibrahim.
- [Takiyuddin Hassan]
- Web site: 29 March 2019. PAS sec-gen does not intend to quit PAC. Malaysiakini. 28 March 2019.
- [William Leong]
- Web site: 18 July 2019. 18 July 2019. Ramkarpal replaces Nurul as head of Consideration of Bills Committee. Malaysiakini.
- [Nurul Izzah Anwar]
- Web site: PAC mini-reshuffle - three members swapped. Malaysiakini. 4 December 2018. 25 March 2019.
- Web site: Maria Chin Abdullah. 8 December 2019. 4 December 2019. facebook.com. Chin Abdullah. Maria.
- Web site: Annuar. Azril. DAP's Wong Kah Woh appointed PAC chief Malay Mail. 2020-08-27. www.malaymail.com. en.
- Web site: 2020-11-04. Noh Omar tarik diri dari PAC. 2020-11-04. Malaysiakini. ms.
- Web site: Following Noh Omar's footsteps, Ahmad Maslan quits PAC. 2020-11-12. www.sinchew.com.my. 11 November 2020 .
- Web site: 2020-11-16. Gerik MP dies of heart attack. 2020-11-16. Malaysiakini. en.
- Web site: Straits Times. 26 March 2019. Najib to nominate first-term MP Hasan Arifin as new PAC chairman on Oct 19. 16 October 2015.
- [Nur Jazlan Mohamed]
- Web site: 26 March 2019. 1MDB probe temporarily frozen as PAC chief, members made deputy ministers. Malay Mail. 28 July 2015. Shazwan Mustafa Kamal.
- Web site: 26 March 2019. Parliament appoints five Pakatan reps to PAC. Malay Mail. 26 September 2013. Zurairi AR.
- Web site: 6 new additions in Cabinet line-up from MCA, Gerakan. 26 March 2019. 25 June 2014. The Rakyat Post.
- [Chua Tee Yong]
- [Kamaruddin Jaffar]
- Web site: Five new members appointed to PAC. The Star (Malaysia). Loshana K. Shagar. 26 October 2015.
- [Reezal Merican Naina Merican]
- [Mas Ermieyati Samsudin]
- [Wilfred Madius Tangau]
