Shahrir Samad slugs it out with younger brother in Parliament over PAC chairman appointment
NEW STRAITS TIMES
KUALA LUMPUR: In a rare sight in the Dewan Rakyat, veteran politician Tan Sri Shahrir Samad was today involved with a standoff with his younger brother Khalid Samad on the appointment of the Public Accounts Committee chairman (PAC).
The Johor Baru MP chided his young brother for questioning the integrity of the PAC chairman.
"Alluding that the (parliament) BN chief whip is giving instructions to the PAC chairman is a shallow perception.
"As former PAC chief, I have never received any directive from the chief whip. In fact, I have even called ministers to be present (before the committee) to answer questions on behalf of their ministries.
"When we accuse the PAC chairman, it is also a mark of disrespect to other members of parliament from Barisan Nasional," said Shahrir.
Khalid, who is Shah Alam MP, then denied saying that the PAC chairman had received instructions from BN chief whip, and said he was merely suggesting that the post be filled by an opposition lawmaker for check-and-balance purposes.
Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz however rebutted this and said the remarks made by the Opposition had implied that only those from the Opposition upheld integrity, while a BN-appointed PAC chief does not.
He was delivering his winding up speech for the tabling of the Standing Order Committee report with regards to parliamentary reform.
Nazri had earlier told the House that the government was deliberating on a suggestion to revive the Parliamentary Service Act (PSA).
Nazri said the parliamentary reform involved the establishment of a special chamber to discuss motions raised by MPs on pressing and current issues under Standing Order 18(1).
“Under the new procedure, MPs will be allowed to file motions on urgent matters within a day,” he said.
