Bersih: PAC’s Wong risks becoming beholden with appointment to gov’t agency
Bersih chairperson Thomas Fann warned that Public Accounts Committee (PAC) deputy chair Wong Kah Woh (above) risks becoming beholden to the government after his appointment as the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda) chairperson.
“PAC members like Wong should not head any government agency or GLCs to avoid themselves becoming beholden to the executive since such appointments usually come with a lucrative remuneration,” Fann told Malaysiakini when contacted today...
Bersih chairperson Thomas Fann warned that Public Accounts Committee (PAC) deputy chair Wong Kah Woh (above) risks becoming beholden to the government after his appointment as the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda) chairperson.
“PAC members like Wong should not head any government agency or GLCs to avoid themselves becoming beholden to the executive since such appointments usually come with a lucrative remuneration,” Fann told Malaysiakini when contacted today.
PAC is a parliamentary select committee which is tasked to examine reports from the auditor-general and scrutinise the government’s finances and public expenditures.
Fann also said that such appointments must go through a transparent process so that it is not viewed as political patronage.
“The question to ask when politicians are appointed to head statutory bodies or any government-linked companies is, are these appointments based on merit and professionalism, or based on politics and patronage?
“The Pakatan Harapan government has to allay concerns that such appointments are not political and a means to reward loyal party cadres by abusing state resources.
“Appointments that are not based on merits would ultimately hurt the performances of these important bodies as these appointees could not add any value to their management and potentially exposed them to corrupt practices,” he said.
Qualified candidates should be invited to apply, and this could include politicians, Fann (above) added.
Independent selection committees should then conduct public interviews and select the best candidate for the job.
“Such a process would differentiate it from the past administration and reinforces public confidence in these appointments,” he said.
Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Muhammad Mohan said they would prefer experienced civil servants to occupy such posts.
“This is to avoid any conflict of interest between lawmakers from political parties and political funders.
“We are concerned on the issue of ‘state capture’ where businesses due to self-interest will influence lawmakers from political parties to amend rules and regulations to their favour.
“In return, political parties could receive political funding from businesses,” he explained.
This is why TI-M is pushing for a political funding law in Malaysia, Muhammad said.
Lawmakers, he added, should focus on their job to serve the rakyat.
Malaysian Corruption Watch (MCW) president Jais Abdul Karim said they were disappointed and upset that the Harapan government has failed to ensure only qualified candidates can head GLCs and government agencies.
“What has happened damages the credibility of the government. We are also worried that the integrity of such organisations will be threatened by such appointments,” Jais said.
Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (above) said this is Harapan breaking its manifesto promise against political appointments again.
“The appointment of DAP leaders to head important government agencies does not only raises questions on transparency and good governance, but it is again breaking the Harapan manifesto related to political appointments in government sectors and GLCs,” he said in a statement today.
He also urged Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin to explain why Wong was appointed as the Seda chairperson, which not only broke their election promise but also could potentially create a conflict of interest.
It was announced earlier today that Wong will replace Ahmad Fauzi Hasan as the chairperson of Seda, effective July 1.
Other political appointments under Pakatan Harapan included DAP’s Klang MP Charles Santiago, who was appointed the National Water Services Commission (Span) chairperson last November.
In May this year, former Selangor executive council member Ean Yong Hian Wah was also appointed as the Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairperson.
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