KOTA KINABALU: The appointment of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) members into the federal cabinet was done based on their capacity as members of parliament, said Barisan Nasional (BN) strategic communication director Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
He said this in response to the opposition’s crying foul over the decision by the Prime Minister to appoint four PAC members as minister and deputy minister in the recent cabinet reshuffle.
The Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister pointed out that the four appointees were appointed not because they were members of PAC, but in their capacity as members of parliament.
“In the present circumstances, we may have to contend with a brief delay in getting the PAC investigation on 1MDB to be on the roll once again. How long then is the delay? The delay is estimated to be around two months because parliament will sit again for the third sitting in early October to decide the new chairman and replacement members of PAC,” he said.
He also opined that there is also merit or justification for the delay as well.
With new revelation of allegedly forged documents by Sarawak Report and confessions of individuals of conspiracy theories, it may be wise for the PAC to wait until the dust settles and a clearer picture emerges. Otherwise, the PAC may make conclusion based on faulty assumptions, the Kota Belud member of parliament opined.
Will the recent four appointments derail or stop the investigation altogether? The answer is absolutely not, Abdul Rahman said in a statement yesterday.
According to him, the government has no power to stop any investigation by parliament. Once it has started, it can only be stopped when the PAC has made a conclusion and presented the same to members of the Dewan Rakyat. PAC does not stop its function or investigation just because some of the MPs have ceased being members. Such, in brief, is how the PAC operates, he said.
“And this leads me to say that I doubt the PAC would be crippled just because four of its members have been promoted to the front bench. PAC has been around since independence and remains the beacon of parliamentary democracy. They will continue to be so as long as parliament is still functioning in our country.
“The four MPs were chosen to fill a ministerial post and three deputy ministerial posts due to their abilities and position in their respective party. Let us examine those ability through a microscopic lens.
“Take for instance, Datuk Madius Tangau, the acting president of UPKO, who by convention should be in the cabinet. If the PM did not appoint him last week, he then would be sending a wrong signal to UPKO members. In essence, it would be interpreted that the central leadership does not respect UPKO members’ choice. As Sabah BN secretary, I am of the view that it is a wrong political move for the PM to deny the president of an important component party in Sabah of a position in the cabinet,” he stressed.
This leads us to Datuk Reezal Merican, who is known to be a prolific MP, he said, adding that he has known Reezal for more than 10 years and is knowledgeable with an astounding grasp over a myriad of subjects.
“You can have an engaging intellectual conversation with him on any subject matter, and I promise, you will not be disappointed at the level of comprehension he has over the subject matter in hand.
“You will find him at ease even when discussing matters like international economics, investment and finance, social, Middle Eastern history and Islamic jurisprudence. If you don’t believe me, just place him a call and talk to him yourself. You can talk to him in English, Malay or Arabic. He speaks them fluently with an added literary finesse and eloquence.
“His appointment as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs would give Malaysia an edge in international relations, especially in our relation with the Middle East where his command of the Arabic language is a big plus,” Abdul Rahman added.
According to him, as far as Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin is concerned, it has been a long-held tradition of Umno that the Puteri chief will be at the front bench.
He pointed out that Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, Datuk Noraini Ahmad and Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin were all part of the front bench when they helmed Puteri Umno.
Coupled with her strong background in law, it is almost given that Mas Ermieyati must be in the front bench, he said, adding, “but understandably, the most criticised appointment was that of the PAC’s ex-chairman, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohammed.
The stream of criticism and ridicule raised by the opposition on his appointment is swift and constant. After all, he was smacked right in the eye of the 1MDB storm and was expected to lead a rigorous investigation on 1MDB,” he said.
“Yet, despite this protest, I strongly believe we must be fair to him. I was appointed to the PAC together with Datuk Nur Jazlan in 2008. While I was lucky to be given the opportunity to serve the country as a cabinet minister in 2013, he, unfortunately, was not, and as a consequence thereof, a lot of his supporters and constituents find him ‘languishing’ in his political career – especially when this is his eighth year serving as a PAC member.
Missing that 2013 cabinet formation was not the first time, Abdul Rahman said, adding that Datuk Nur Jazlan actually, in total, had missed six opportunities to be appointed to the front bench throughout his career as an MP.
The first time was when the cabinet formation was announced shortly after GE11 in 2004. The second time was during the cabinet reshuffle by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in February 2006. The third time was the cabinet formed immediately after GE12 in 2008. The fourth time was when Datuk Seri Najib took over the premiership from Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2009. The fifth time was the cabinet formation after GE13 in 2013 and the sixth time was when Datuk Seri Najib made a slight cabinet reshuffle in 2014.
The question that begs to be answered, is it fair to deny him the opportunity to advance his political career for the seventh time? Abdul Rahman pointed out.
“We may be foolish enough to say ‘yes’ because we are more interested to see him serving our interest rather than his own. But for him, the answer is obviously quite the opposite. And we honestly can’t blame him for thinking that way,” he said.
According to him, Nur Jazlan was born into a political family. His father was once a great leader of Umno, the late Tan Sri Mohammad Rahmat, who was a federal minister and the secretary general of Umno.
Political blood runs deep in his veins. Thus, one would assume, given his family’s illustrious career in politics, the continuation of the legacy of his father is important both to him, his family and his constituents.
But after all, to honestly sum it up, it is a dream of every MP to be able to serve his or her country. What better way to do that by becoming one of the cabinet members as ministers or deputy ministers, Abdul Rahman stressed.
“I say let us allow Datuk Nur Jazlan to move up his career ladder with open heart and mind. He, his supporters and his constituents, after all, deserve it! If he missed the last cabinet reshuffle, the next available opportunity for him is after GE14 (2018). That is a long three years from now.
“And let us not for a moment forget that the PAC can be easily reconstituted. That is not a problem. It won’t take long, at most two months as parliament will meet in October to decide on the new chairman and replacement members of PAC. I am sure the new chairman will pick up where Datuk Nur Jazlan has left off with ease. Above all, PAC should never be doubted as the kernel of truth in our parliament democracy,” he opined.