The Selangor state legislative assembly has approved three key proposals aimed at improving the transparency and the accountability of its members toward voters and the people of Selangor [Link].
The three amendments to the Standing Orders are as follows:
(1) Live broadcast – Since 2008, the proceedings of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly have been broadcast in its entirety live on the web. This was a big step forward in improving the accessibility of the state legislative assembly to the people. A live web or television broadcast of every sitting is now made mandated by the Standing Orders (‘Peraturan Tetap’) of the assembly.
(2) Compulsory for Public Accounts Committee to be chaired by opposition leader – Selangor had twice previously – during the 12th and 13th Selangor State Legislative Assembly – broken new ground in local legislative practice. In keeping with international practice, it offered the position of chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee to the leader of the opposition. But on both occasions, the offer was turned down.
Since it cannot be assumed that the opposition will be an effective check and balance in the legislative assembly, the Standing Orders were amended to make it compulsory for the Public Accounts Committee to be chaired by the leader of the opposition.
(3) State government’s response to select committee reports – The assembly has 12 active select committees. These select committees make enquiries on issues pertaining to the state administration and their reports are tabled, debated and approved by the House.
The Standing Orders have been amended to make it compulsory for the state government to report to the state assembly on actions taken on the findings and recommendations of the select committees. The Executive is thus accountable to the Legislature.
With these amendments, the Selangor State Legislative Assembly has bound the present and future state governments to a system of governance that is not subject to the whims and fancies of the government of the day or even the Speaker of the day.
Indeed, the Public Accounts Committee plays an important role in any sitting Parliament. Its job is to examine various accounts of the Government showing the appropriation of funds granted by Parliament to meet public expenditure, as well as other accounts laid before Parliament.
So, what about Singapore?
The 12th Parliament Public Accounts Committee consists solely of PAP MPs [Link] and not a single opposition MP:
 |  |  |  |
| Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng(Chairman) | Mr Ang Hin Kee | Mr Christopher De Souza | Ms Foo Mee Har |
 |  |  |  |
| Mr Gan Thiam Poh | Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo | Dr Teo Ho Pin | Mr Zaqy Mohamad |
The absence of any opposition MPs in the line-up flies in the face of an increasing number of opposition MPs in Parliament.
Ironically, each of the other six select committees has an opposition MP as member.
The previous 10th and 11th Parliament Public Accounts Committees also did not have any opposition MPs:
11th Parliament Public Accounts Committee Members
Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng (Chairman)
Mr Liang Eng Hwa
Dr Lim Wee Kiak
Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng
Dr Teo Ho Pin
Mrs Josephine Teo
Mr Wee Siew Kim
Mr Zaqy Mohamad
10th Parliament Public Accounts Committee Members
Mr Leong Horn Kee (Chairman)
Mr Chay Wai Chuen
Mr Charles Chong
Mr Gan Kim Yong
Mr Hawazi Daipi
Mr Inderjit Singh
Mr S Iswaran
Mr Wee Siew Kim
It does appear that when it comes to examining the government’s various accounts and monitoring government spending, the PAP government likes to keep everything “in-house”. It wants to let only its political party members have oversight. Somehow, it feels “shy” to have opposition MPs sitting in this important committee – not even as a member.
Singapore should learn from the Selangor State Legislative Assembly. Compulsorily appointing the opposition leader as chair of its Public Accounts Committee underscores the Selangor government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
And this is Malaysia we are talking about, supposedly a third world nation.
永久浪客
Forever Vagabond