KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat yesterday passed a motion to appoint Barisan Nasional MP for Pulai Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed as chairman of the powerful Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The DAP MP for Kepong was appointed deputy chairman, a position he has held for the past four terms.

Earlier, there had been calls for Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be appointed PAC chairman.

The committee keeps tabs on federal expenditure and is also tasked with probing abuses highlighted in the yearly Auditor-General’s report.

Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) pointed out that in several Commonwealth nations, the head of the opposition is usually ppointed to lead the PAC.

However, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the Pulai MP was appointed to ensure a “mix of young and old blood” in the committee.

The House also passed a motion for the formation of the Committee of Selection of the 13th Parliament yesterday.

This committee will nominate and select the other members of the PAC, the Standing Orders Committee as well as other House committees.

The Committee of Selection’s six members are Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (BN-Pagoh), Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G Palanivel (BN-Cameron Highlands), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun (BN-Selangau), MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (BN-Bentong), Anwar (PKR-Permatang Pauh) and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Gelang Patah).

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on July 19, 2013.