KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Parliamentary rules prohibit the release of information and documents shared with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) before they are presented to the Lower House, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said today.
The PAC chairman said witnesses called by the committee would violate Standing Order 85 and Section 9 (m) of the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 or Act 347 by doing so.
“Such actions has violated Standing Order 85 and Section 9 (m) of Act 347 and has disrupted the conclusion and recommendations by the PAC.
“I urge all parties, especially the media, to get their information on PAC proceedings only from the PAC especially myself and respect the proceedings and investigations of the PAC by not obtaining news from unverified sources,” Mas told a press conference here in Parliament today.
Section 9 (m) states the Dewan Rakyat may punish those who publicise any report of a committee of the House or of any evidence given or any documents presented to such committee or extracts from such documents, before such committee has presented its Report to the House.
The PAC chairman was referring to a report by Utusan Malaysia on June 12, in relation to the construction of the littoral combat ships that quoted an unnamed source.
Mas added that when such information is released to the public before an investigation is completed, it will disrupt the ongoing investigation.
