Former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee (BN-Beluran) has been formally appointed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson after a motion on the appointment was tabled in the House.

The motion, which was moved by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department VK Liew and seconded by his deputy minister Hanipa Maidin, also appointed Wong Kah Woh (Harapan-Ipoh Timur) as the PAC deputy chairperson.

“I second the motion, and I wish to say congratulations,” Hanipa said.

This elicited a chuckle from the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, who said, “It has not been debated and decided on yet”.

It was then supported unanimously by all the lawmakers in the Dewan Rakyat.

Pakatan Harapan had said in its election manifesto for the 14th general election that it would appoint an opposition MP as PAC chairperson.

Previously, opposition leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (BN-Bagan Datuk) was reportedly offered the post.

However, Liew was quoted saying Ahmad Zahid rejected the offer and proposed Kiandee’s name himself.