This call comes as the PSSC is investigating the Attorney-General Chamber’s decision to withdraw 47 charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the Yayasan Akalbudi case.
“MPs and parliamentary committees must not fear this transparency, and it is important for the public to hear what transpires, especially what is said by the persons summoned to testify.
“The public wants to know and monitor their MPs who are involved, and how their peoples’ representatives conduct themselves in such committee proceedings and decision making.
“They want to hear it all, not simply the final conclusions,” said Madpet spokesperson Charles Hector in a statement yesterday.
He cited a Sin Chew report quoting PSSC chairperson William Leong saying the committee’s hearings on Zahid’s (above) case will not be telecast live.
Leong reportedly said this was due to parliamentary Standing Orders which prevented such a practice.
It is unclear which standing order he was referring to in particular.
Past proposals to make committee meetings public were shot down using Standing Order 85 of the Dewan Rakyat Meeting Regulations which prevents members of the committee from publicising documents prior to the committee’s investigation report being completed.
Standing Order 85 reads: “The evidence taken before any Select Committee and any documents presented to such Committee shall not be published by any member of such Committee, or by any other person, before the Committee has presented its Report to the House.”
However, former Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Wong Kah Woh argued in 2022 that the house speaker has the power to suspend Standing Order 85 by referring the same to the House for a decision, pursuant to Standing Order 90(2).
Standing Order 90(2) reads: “A question, the object or effect of which may be to suspend any Standing Orders of the House, shall be proposed only either after notice given, or with the consent of Tuan Yang di-Pertua who shall immediately without debate put the question.”
Hector also argued that the government could easily amend parliamentary Standing Orders to allow live telecast of hearings to ensure Parliament and its various committees are more transparent.
“A mere report alone is insufficient as it will not comprehensively raise all the points, questions, and answers made, or even the votes cast.
“We will only get the majority report – not the minority report. A report also will be hearsay and an interpretation of what transpired by the drafters of the report.
“What transpires in select committees are not ‘official secrets’, and since the committee is made up of MPs, elected by the people, there really is no justification for it being secret,” Hector said.
AGs invited to proceedings
Leong previously said the PSSC issued “invitations” to the former and current attorneys-general to explain the decision to withdraw all 47 charges against Zahid.
He did not specify who will be invited but the decision in Zahid’s case was delivered a day before former attorney-general Idrus Harun officially retired.
The current attorney-general is Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, who took over the position on Sept 6.
Specifically, Leong said the duo may assist by giving suggestions related to a proposal to separate the powers of the attorney-general and public prosecutor.
Among the cases that will be discussed in this investigation include Zahid’s, the appeal dismissal against former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy over alleged tampering with the 1MDB audit report, and the acquittal of Muhyiddin over four abuse of power charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme.
Leong added that the PSSC will also invite electoral reform coalition Bersih, think-tank Ideas and other groups to attend the upcoming meeting. - Malaysiakini, 1/10/2023
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