The Malaysian Insight

THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will meet in Parliament this morning while dozens of MPs are locked out, sources told The Malaysian Insight.  

“Director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah will attend the meeting,” said the source.  

The meeting will take place at the Parliament office at 10.30am.  

Yesterday PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh said the committee will meet despite a suggestion from Noor Hisham that the select committees not meet for two weeks.

Wong said he has instructed the Parliament secretary to inform the director-general of health that its proceedings will go on as scheduled.

“When Parliament is not sitting, there will only be fewer than 30 people in the PAC room. I believe the health D-G knows and understands this fully well and in what manner he shall discharge his duty to the nation,” he said.

Wong said today’s meeting will see the PAC gathering feedback on the issue of vaccine procurement from Health Minister Dr Adham Baba and the director-general of health.

He had said the meeting will be its third on the matter.

Sources have told The Malaysian Insight that PAC members were allowed to enter the Parliament building for their meeting despite police presence blocking entry to other MPs who earlier attempted to do so.

The brief standoff on the road in front of the Bank Rakyat building came after the government ordered the Dewan Rakyat sitting scheduled for today, postponed due to Covid-19 concerns.

Opposition MPs, however, have alleged that Covid-19 is being used as an excuse to avoid explanation of the cabinet’s move to cancel the emergency ordinances against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s instruction to table them for debate in both Houses of Parliament.

Besides Wong, it is learnt that other PAC members who are attending today’s meeting include Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi and Papar MP Ahmad Hassan.

Dewan Rakyat Secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin is also present. – August 2, 2021.