Related News: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/917556/pns-refusal-debate-ags-report-raises-suspicion-says-c4
Coverage by: News Straits Time (NST)
KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional (PN) politicians’ vehement objection to the Auditor-General’s Report 2021 Series 2 (AG’s Report) debate in Parliament raises suspicion of financial mismanagement or leakages in the past, says the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center).
The policy advocacy centre, in a statement, said the exaggerated reaction indicates that PN politicians’ time in office could have been marked by incidence of corruption and self-enrichment.
“The actions of PN politicians in completely being opposed to the debating of the AG’s Report arouses suspicion.
“The report would cover expenses made during PN’s time in government and would reveal any possible financial mismanagement or leakages under their leadership.
“Suspicions of financial mismanagement by PN have become much more substantiated since the unity government under Pakatan Harapan took office in November 2022.
“These matters are under active investigation by the Malaysian
Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), with multiple arrests having been made in connection with these allegations, proving that they are more than just rumours and hence must be looked into further,” the statement added.
The center said it is disappointing that despite being elected officials, PN politicians refuse to be answerable in any way to Parliament and by extension, the people.
On June 6 (Tuesday), Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul moved forward with the motion to allow for the AG’s Report to be debated. However, none of the opposition MPs were present for the debate.
The C4 Center criticised the move, calling it “a shameful display of irresponsibility”.
“As the opposition bloc, PN is bound by a duty to ensure that governance, especially in the government’s management and record-keeping of finances is, up to par,” it said.
The centre questioned why PN was so opposed to debating the Auditor-General’s Report when the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), led by chairman Mas Ermieyati, had already vetted it.
It urged the government to amend the standing orders to formalise the debate of the AG’s Reports as part of Dewan Rakyat sittings, make all PAC sessions publicly available and accessible for viewing.
It also said that Parliament should re-table the motion to debate the AG’s Report and ensure that PN politicians, including former ministers, are in attendance to justify or provide explanations for the findings.
