Related News: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/06/07/c4-calls-for-retabling-of-motion-to-debate-audit-report/
Coverage by: Free Malaysia Today (FMT)
PETALING JAYA: An anti-graft NGO has called for the re-tabling of the motion to debate the 2021 Auditor-General’s (A-G) Report after the opposition refused to participate in discussions yesterday.
The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) is also demanding that Perikatan Nasional (PN) politicians, including former ministers, be in attendance to explain the major findings of the report.
C4 said the government must amend the standing orders to formalise the debate of the report as part of Dewan Rakyat sittings.
“The opposition by PN politicians to debating the A-G’s Report is suspicious.
“The report would cover expenses made during PN’s time in government and would reveal any possible financial mismanagement or leakages under its leadership,” it said in a statement.
The opposition had refused to participate in the debate on the report, claiming it violated parliamentary standing orders and was unconstitutional.
Former law minister and PAS MP Takiyuddin Hassan said as the report had been thoroughly vetted by the Public Accounts Committee, it would be a waste of the Dewan Rakyat’s time to debate it.
C4 also said it was disappointing “but also telling” that PN politicians, despite being elected officials, refuse to be answerable in any way to Parliament.
“As the opposition bloc, PN is supposed to be bound by a duty to ensure that governance, especially in the government’s management and record-keeping of finances, is up to par.”