KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 26): Former federal territories minister Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa has been named a new member of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

According to the minutes of the Dewan Rakyat Select Committee released on Monday, the appointment was made during a committee meeting held on Jan 22, which was chaired by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.

Zaliha, the Sekijang Member of Parliament, replaces her PKR colleague Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, who was appointed deputy minister of investment, trade and industry following the Cabinet reshuffle in December last year.

A first-term MP, Zaliha was appointed health minister by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after the formation of the unity government following the 2022 general election.

She was later moved to the Prime Minister’s Department as minister in charge of the federal territories during Anwar’s first Cabinet reshuffle in 2023.

She was among two ministers dropped in the Cabinet reshuffle in December last year. The other was the then minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs, Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

The PAC, which is mandated to scrutinise the finances of the federal government and statutory bodies, is currently chaired by Masjid Tanah MP Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin from the opposition, with Seputeh MP Teresa Kok serving as deputy chair.

The committee currently comprises two MPs each from DAP, Bersatu, Umno, PKR and PAS, as well as one MP each from Amanah and Gabungan Parti Sarawak.

Separately, the Dewan Rakyat Select Committee has also agreed to appoint Simpang Renggam MP Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad as the new chairman of the Dewan Rakyat Select Committee on Finance and Economy.

Hasni, a former Johor menteri besar, replaces Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah, who was promoted to deputy minister of economy.

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