SWEEPING changes will be proposed for Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to ensure more transparency and accountability in the Government, says new PAC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (pic).

“I will write to Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof on the proposals. They are in line with Pakatan Harapan’s aspirations for a more transparent and accountable PAC,” he said at the Parliament lobby.

One of the proposals is that PAC reports will be tabled and debated by MPs.

“This will make the PAC more transparent and democratic as issues raised in its reports can be openly debated in Parliament,” he said.

Kiandee, who made history by becoming the first opposition lawmaker to helm the PAC, said the 12-member committee should also include ex-officio members.

Kiandee is a former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker.

“At present, the committee comprises seven MPs from the ruling Government and five from the Opposition.

“I am proposing that representatives from the Attorney General’s Chambers and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission sit on the PAC as well,” he said.

Kiandee, who is Beluran MP, will also propose to open PAC hearings to the public. Such hearings are now held behind closed-doors.

To allow this, Parliament’s Standing Order 85 needs to be amended to allow PAC hearings to be opened to the public.

Standing Order 85 states that any evidence or documents presented to the committee shall not be published before the report is tabled in the House.

The PAC mainly assists Parliament to oversee the Government’s financial operations and public expenditure.

It also studies and presents recommendations on issues raised in the annual Auditor-General’s Report.

Among the issues the PAC will look into soon is a proposal to reopen investigations into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

The PAC had in the last term looked into 1MDB, but failed to re-investigate the matter after the US Department of Justice provided new statements in mid-2016.