A corruption watchdog today took Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz to task over his reason for not appointing an opposition parliamentarian to head the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

In a strongly worded statement, Transparency International president Tunku Abdul Aziz said the minister's excuse was 'disingenuous and intellectually flawed'.

Nazri, who oversees parliamentary affairs, had claimed that the chairmanship for the newly formed PAC could not be given to opposition MPs as "there was no guarantee they would know how to conduct their duties."

He said there were also certain 'budgetary sensitivities' that needed to be safeguarded.

However, Abdul Aziz has a different view.

"Evidently, the chair of the committee should ideally be a member nominated by the opposition in Parliament, as is the general practise in Westminster democracies, (the appointee should) at least be a member with an independent mind and disposition.

"The government would greatly enhance its credibility and legitimacy to govern by putting public accounting outside the scope of partisan politics," he said in a statement.

Abdul Aziz added that Nazri's statement also revealed his ignorance for the PAC's term of reference.

"I have heard many reasons to justify denying the opposition its proper role in a parliamentary democracy, but the minister's excuse is both disingenuous and intellectually flawed," he added.

Powers to investigate

At a DAP-organised forum on Sunday, the opposition party called for the PAC to be chaired by an opposition parliamentarian.

Nazri, who was also present, however shot down this proposal.

The idea to establish a PAC was mooted last week as part of the National Integrity Plan - a government backed effort that aims to stamp out corruption and create an ethical Malaysian society.

The PAC chairperson would be endowed with the powers to investigate ministry accounts and government expenditures.

Former Perak menteri besar and MP for Pasir Salak Ramli Ngah Talib has since been named as its chairperson with DAP's Tan Seng Giaw as his deputy.

Yesterday, Nazri announced that three seats in the PAC would be allocated for opposition parties with one representative each from DAP, PAS and Keadilan.

The committee, which used to have seven committee members, can be expanded under the Standing Orders to accommodate 14.