The Perak Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry today could not complete its scrutiny into the eligibility of salaries and benefits enjoyed by Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir and his exco members due to the absence of some important witnesses, including Zambry.

The meeting was also supposed to determine whether the appointment of the four advisors by Zambry was necessary.

perak pac hearing 050309 nizar However, only ousted Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin attended the inquiry at the state secretariat building.

Notices to attend the meeting were sent on Monday to Nizar, Zambry, state secretary Abdul Rahman Hashim, state financial officer Jamalludin Al Amini Ahmad and state legal advisor Ahmad Kamal Shahid.

Nizar arrived for the meeting at about 4.20pm and left at 5pm. The state secretary meanwhile sent his representative.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, PAC chairperson Wong Kah Woh expressed his disappointment with those who were absent.

He said that the PAC would give the absentees another chance to attend the inquiry next Friday, at 3pm, at the state secretariat.

perak pac hearing 050309 wong kah woh "I would stress that PAC is not a judge. We're just the guardian of public funds. That's why we are giving this inquiry," he said.

Wong ( photo ) chaired the inquiry along with committee members Leong Mee Meong (DAP-Jalong), S Kesavan (PKR-Hutan Melintang), Mohd Anuar Sudin (PAS-Changkat Jong) and Yee Seu Kai (DAP-Pokok Assam).

Formed in June last year, PAC also consisted of Zambry (Umno-Pangkor) as deputy chair and Ramly Zahari Zahari (Umno-Manong). The latter is now one of Zambry's exco members.

By virtue of being part of the executive, Zambry and Ramly can no longer be part of the PAC.

Established under Standing Order 70 of the Perak state assembly and custodian of the state coffers, the PAC inquiry is set out to determine two things.

perak pac hearing 050309 pc First, it is to determine the legality, benefits, rationale and purpose, and remunerations to be paid to the four advisors - Mohd Najumuddin Elies (Muslim affairs), Chang Ko Youn (Chinese affairs), S Veerasingam (Indian affairs) and Hamdi Abu Bakar (information chief).

Secondly, the meeting is to determine whether the BN or Pakatan Rakyat menteri besar and exco members should be awarded salaries, allowances and other benefits.

The PAC inquiry was announced by Wong on Feb 28.

Zambry explains his absence

Meanwhile a statement purportedly released by Zambry explained his absence at the meeting today.

dr zambry abdul kadir new perak cm 110209 02 In the unsigned statement Zambry said that he did not attend the meeting as the meeting was in danger of being prejudicial and unfair to him.

This was because Wong had lodged a complaint against Zambry and his six exco members to the Rights and Privileges Committee of the state assembly on Feb 14.

Zambry also said that the committee had no power to sit while the state assembly had been adjourned.

He added that the letter issued by PAC inviting him to the meeting was also confusing as it asked him to attend a meeting on Thursday, March 3. Today is March 4, he noted.

The statement was delivered to the waiting journalists by a woman who claimed to be Zambry's staff and refused to say anything more.

perak pac hearing 050309 pac members Meanwhile, Wong refused to confirm or deny if the PAC would exercise its powers to issue an arrest warrant to secure attendance of the four individuals absent at the hearing today.

"We deem everyone as friends. We will be flexible. We will wait and see," he said.

On Zambry's allegation that the hearing was unfair to him, Wong said that the complaint he lodged with the Rights and Privileges Committee had nothing to do with the hearing.

He said that the PAC hearing also would not dwell into who is the rightful menteri besar and would only concentrate on the state coffers.

On whether state government departments are bound by PAC's recommendations, Wong said, "the PAC has a duty to submit a report to the state assembly for adoption".