Two MPs from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) claimed they were kicked out of a public briefing on the latest series of the Auditor General’s Report by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low today.<\/p>\n
Sim Tze Tzin (PKR – Bayan Baru) and Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad (PAS – Kuala Terengganu) said Low had asked them to leave the auditorium at Menara Integriti, just as soon as the programme, which was broadcast live, had started.<\/p>\n
”We arrived, registered and were allowed to go in. But then, an officer from the ministry approached me and told me that since I am an MP, I was not allowed to be there,” Raja Kamarul told reporters at the Parliament lobby.<\/p>\n
“But I asked if I could stay and after conferring with his boss, the officer returned and told me I could stay but I was not allowed to ask any questions.”<\/p>\n
The PAS MP added that as soon as Low stepped onto the stage and finished his welcoming speech, he said the briefing was only for civil servants and the media.<\/p>\n
“And the two of us were then asked to leave.”<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of integrity and good governance is this, especially coming from a former president of Transparency International?\u201d saidRaja Kamarul.<\/p>\n
He added that the incident left both of them to wonder if the public briefing was orchestrated to pacify the public.<\/p>\n
“I don’t see why we, as elected representatives, can’t be there. This is a big question mark.<\/p>\n
“We have the reports and it was also broadcast live. So why should it be a secret?” he said.<\/p>\n
Sim said the incident only showed that Low was unable to deal with the \u201ctough questions\u201d which would have been posed by the Pakatan MPs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don’t want to allow critical questions. It shows that the government has failed in transparency,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy calling only civil servants to attend the briefing session, it is as if the government is monitoring itself. This is an excellent way to whitewash the AG’s Report via a special briefing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raja Kamarul said the minister, however, had promised to have a briefing for MPs at a later date, but added that previous experiences have shown that this would not happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the same as the MH370 issue. The acting transport minister promised to hold a briefing for Pakatan MPs but that never happened, so why should we believe what Low says now?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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