Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor with the PAC members.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor being briefed by Datuk Wira Mas Ermieyati Samsudin on the PAC’s working visit to Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) led by chairperson Datuk Wira Mas Ermieyati Samsudin met with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor at Menara Kinabalu on Thursday.
At the meeting, Mas Ermieyati, who is also Masjid Tanah MP briefed the Chief Minister on PAC’s working visit to Sabah beginning September 29, which included a visit to the site of the Sandakan water upgrading project and Tawau.
The PAC delegation members comprised of 11 other MPs.
There are Vivian Wong (Sandakan), Dato’ Adnan Abu Hassan (Kuala Pilah), Theresa Kok (Seputeh), Haji Azli Yusof (Shah Alam) and Dato’ Wira Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (Kubang Pasu).
The other members are Dato’ Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (Tampin), Dr Hajah Halimah Ali (Kapar), Datuk Ali Anak Biju (Saratok), Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (Sik), Ts Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju) and Dr Richard Rapu (Betong).
The PAC is appointed at the beginning of every Parliament.
The committee’s function is for the examination of the accounts of the Federation and the appropriation of the sums granted by Parliament to meet the public expenditure.
The PAC confirmed that a detailed report will be prepared to explain delays in disbursing the RM320 million federal allocation for water projects in Sabah.
Mas Ermieyati stated that although specific details could not be disclosed due to procedural restrictions, the issue would be thoroughly addressed in the upcoming report.
“Yes, we will elaborate on that in the report. I can only provide a general overview as we are still in the procedural phase,” she said.
“Under Standing Order 85, we cannot disclose any information gathered during the proceedings, but I can provide a general summary,” she told reporters in Kota Kinabalu.
The PAC recently held two proceedings on national water management and rural projects in Sabah and Sarawak, and brought in the Sabah PAC to improve oversight of the forthcoming report.
The committee also conducted a fact-finding visit to Sandakan and Tawau ahead of the proceedings.
The RM320 million federal allocation, announced in June 2023, was intended to fund six short-term programmes involving 20 projects across districts including Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Tawau.
However, bureaucratic hurdles and delays in the procurement process have prevented the funds from being utilised.
Tenders were expected to be called in mid-2024, but additional documentation needs to be completed before the funds can be released.
During its fact-finding mission, PAC has already identified several issues, particularly in Sandakan and Tawau.
Sandakan MP Vivian Wong highlighted disorganised management of water treatment plants and the hiring of multiple consultants, but noted that water problems in her constituency remain unresolved.
Wong who is also a PAC member specifically cited issues at the Segaliud and Hilltop Water Treatment Plants.
