By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 22: Michael Kong Feng Nian, special assistant to Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Cheing Jen, has called for the inclusion of Opposition members in the Sarawak Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to enhance transparency and accountability in public expenditure.
Kong emphasised that appointing Opposition members to the PAC, including the chairmanship, would ensure impartial leadership and strengthen the committee’s oversight mandate effectively.
The recent findings by the PAC regarding weaknesses in the management and implementation of state government projects underscore the critical need for accountability and transparency in public spending.
“However, the absence of Opposition assemblymen in the Sarawak PAC raises concerns about the effectiveness of oversight and scrutiny,” he said in a statement today.
He said unlike the Federal Parliament which operates on a bipartisan structure where representatives from both the government and opposition being involved, the current composition of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly’s (DUN) PAC lacks Opposition representation and this hinders its ability to provide robust checks and balances.
He pointed out that the significance of an accountable PAC system is underscored by recent revelations in the Parliament, such as the Covid-19 ventilator scandal which exposed a breach of procurement protocols while finding that 104 out of the 136 ventilators ordered were unusable.
“In light of these developments, it is imperative for the Sarawak government to consider reforms to the current Sarawak PAC structure,” he added.
Yesterday, the Sarawak PAC audit reported to have found weaknesses in management and implementation involving State government projects. — DayakDaily
