[UPDATED] PAC head chafed at meet delayed due to Parliament blockade

KUALA LUMPUR – The morning’s police blockade has earned the ire of Public Accounts Committee chairman Wong Kah Woh, saying it has delayed a proceeding scheduled with Health Ministry officials at 10.30am.

He said he was threatened with arrest and given two minutes to leave, despite displaying a letter issued by the Dewan Rakyat secretary in an effort to get to Parliament.

In a statement, Wong added that he deeply regrets the actions of police who “failed” to give way to PAC members to attend the proceedings.

“During my journey to Parliament, I informed police officers manning the roadblock of my job as PAC chairman and had asked to be given access to Parliament, but this was not allowed.

“The same thing happened to several PAC members who were stopped at the roadblock even though we had a letter for the meeting that was signed by the Dewan Rakyat secretary on this morning’s proceedings.”

He said although the PAC members were eventually allowed to enter the Parliament compound with the help of the management, the cops’ actions were “uncalled for”.

However, Wong in an earlier posting on Twitter said the PAC meeting proceeded with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba and Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah as “main witnesses” this morning.

“What is required now is perhaps that Parliament should upgrade its ventilation system,” Wong tweeted.

He added in his statement that the cops’ action goes against a directive by the Inspector-General of Police, who did not prohibit parliamentarians from attending meetings approved by Dewan Rakyat, and that it is an offence under Section 124 of the Penal Code.

“Our presence in Parliament was intended to attend PAC proceedings and the letter for said meeting was clear evidence for the members of PDRM (police force).”

He said aside from Dr Adham and Dr Noor Hisham, the meeting was attended by Health Secretary-General Datuk Mohd Shafiq Abdillah and National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency director Dr Roshayati Rusli.

“The proceeding went on smoothly with compliance to all health SOPs,” he said, adding that it lasted nearly three hours.

He said it was the fourth PAC meet.

“PAC will discuss the report (on the proceedings) and will summarise and provide recommendations to the government before it is presented in Dewan Rakyat at the October sitting.”

Yesterday, Dr Noor Hisham said Parliament would be closed for two weeks following the detection of several Covid-19 cases during the special Dewan Rakyat sitting last week. – The Vibes, August 2, 2021