PAC chief dismayed by Loke's accusation of partisanship

Summary

• Public Accounts Committee chairperson Mas Ermieyati Samsudin is shocked by Transports Minister Anthony Loke’s claim he is being summoned as he is a DAP lawmaker.

• Mas Ermieyati says regardless of political affiliation, other present and former ministers have been summoned before committee.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Mas Ermieyati Samsudin has expressed shock and dismay towards Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s claim that he was being summoned because he was an MP from DAP.

She said Loke’s remarks were off-the-mark, as numerous other ministers and former ministers have been summoned before by the PAC, regardless of their political affiliation.

“Did the PAC chairperson before me, who is also from DAP, hold proceedings by calling witnesses from among the cabinet members just because they are from Umno, Bersatu, or MCA?

“In my view, all PAC chairpersons have acted professionally to ensure the committee’s professionalism and credibility since it was founded in 1959,” she said in a statement yesterday.

She reminded that the PAC is a bipartisan committee, and she must also uphold the consensus decisions of the 13 other committee members in initiating proceedings or calling witnesses for each proceeding.

For context, Mas Ermieyati (above) is a Bersatu lawmaker, which is in line with the practice of appointing an opposition lawmaker to the post of PAC chairperson to ensure check and balance on government expenditure. A government backbencher would be appointed to be the deputy chairperson.

Politically motivated

On Feb 1, Mas Ermieyati was quoted saying that she does not rule out summoning Loke to testify on the delays in restoring the Aerotrain service at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the sale of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) shares to Gateway Development Alliance Sdn Bhd, and other issues.

However, Loke reportedly claimed yesterday that the plan to summon him and other Transport Ministry officials is politically motivated. This is because his ministry has nothing to do with the sale of MAHB shares.

He clarified that MAHB is a publicly listed company where the Finance Ministry holds a golden share and is managed by fund managers of relevant institutions.

“In this case it (appears that) there is a political agenda being pushed by the PAC chairperson.

“Coincidentally, the transport minister is from DAP. Is this an attempt to blame the party?

“If an explanation is needed, ask the Employees Provident Fund. The buying and selling of shares are handled by fund managers and not determined by the secretary-general of this ministry,” The Star quoted him as saying.

Management of public airports

However, Mas Ermieyati countered that the PAC proceedings are regarding the management of public airports.

It is not solely focused on the takeover of MAHB, but also on the rising air ticket prices to Sabah and Sarawak and delays in restoring Aerotrain services at KLIA.

The Transport Ministry is thus a major stakeholder in the issue.

“Thus, I’d like to ask Loke whether he does not want to give his views and feedback as transport minister on improving the management of public airports for inclusion in the PAC report.

“If he refuses, that is up to him, and history will record that a cabinet minister has refused to appear before the PAC to give his views and explanation to the PAC even though it is for the good of the people and the nation.

“This is because the PAC wants to ensure the report on this issue is comprehensive and balanced and is a document that can be referenced by all parties,” she said.

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