Caucus on reform, governance will meet PSC, PAC to discuss challenges - Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- The parliamentary caucus on reform and governance will hold meetings with all the chairmen of Parliamentary Select Committees (PSCs) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to discuss their functions and constraints faced by them, said its chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said this was because he received inputs from some of them (chairmen) that they were facing problems in carrying out their duties.

“Among the problems were that they are facing some difficulty to call in senior officials for briefings, their powers are very limited, not as promised.

“We will call in all the chairmen next week, we will discuss the problems they face and will submit a report to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker for this matter to be dealt with,” he told reporters after chairing the caucus’ meeting at Parliament House today.

In a statement earlier, PAC chairman Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad had said there were cases of secretaries-general or heads of departments failing to attend despite being issued with a notice of a meeting of at least 10 days in advance, as stipulated under Standing Order 9 of the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat.

In the meantime, Anwar said the caucus would meet with MPs on the amendments to the 2016 National Security Council Act (MKN) as there were several parties who disagreed with the provisions in the amendment.

On April 9, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin tabled a proposed amendment to the NSC Act for the first reading.

The amendment bill cites  that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will have the power to declare any area in Malaysia as a 'security zone'.

-- BERNAMA