PAC, Tan S G: You have CONTRAVENE ARTICLE 77 – S O; Held Parliament in CONTEMPT; SAMY Reply: GO AHEAD, I am PREPARE to face MUSIC

Deputy Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Dr Tan Seng Giaw presses the Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to read carefully Article 77 of the Parliamentary Standing Orders because his utterances are in contravention of the Orders.

Yesterday, Samy urged PAC Chairman Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad to stop meddling in the affairs of the Works Ministry.

He told Samy, “you have contravened Article 77 of the Standing Orders. You have held Parliament in contempt”

At the beginning of every Parliament, the House appointed the Public Accounts committee (PAC) for the examination of four main areas like the accounts of the Federation and such other matters as the Committee may think fit, or which may be referred to the Committee by the House. The Committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records, and to report from time to time.

Samy Vellu was in his usual combative stance and when questioned, challenged the PAC to go ahead and take action against him. I feel his Ministry officials are TOO BUSY preparing the answers for Tun Dr Mahathir in his coming meeting. And yes, he is working hard for the people not against them. So a very good excuse not to attend the meetings. Samy, You can fool some of the people some of the time but not all the people all the time. Surely someone can be delegated to attend but if they are not prepared, then the best option is NOT to attend.

The following is the full raccount from Bernama:-

SHAH ALAM, June 14 (Bernama) -- Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has challenged the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to take action against him for declining to attend the committee's meeting on June 22.

He said PAC has the right to call anyone to its meeting and take action against those who did not show up.

"Let them take action," he said when asked whether he will attend the PAC's meeting.

Samy Vellu said he was prepared for action to be taken against him for missing the meeting.

"They can (take action against me). I am all prepared for it," he said at a news conference after he opened the Setia Alam interchange here Wednesday.

Samy Vellu, however, said any action against him must be in accordance with the law.

"We still have laws. This is a democratic nation. Don't take things for granted, don't abuse power," he warned PAC.

He said the Works Ministry's director-general would not be attending all the PAC meetings as "he has so much work to do".

"They make it a habit to ask my DG to attend their meetings all the time. We have work to do for the people. We promised the people and the Prime Minister to work hard.

"If (PAC) meetings take up too much of our precious time, then the people and the government will lose out," he said.

PAC deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw said in a statement today that Samy Vellu could be cited for contempt of Parliament for barring his ministry's officers from attending PAC meetings.

Samy Vellu yesterday told PAC chairman Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad to stop meddling in the affairs of the ministry by constantly calling ministry officers to attend its meetings.

He said he would ask the ministry's director-general to give written answers to questions from PAC in future.

His remark was prompted by Shahrir's call to the ministry to negotiate with Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd to reduce its claim for RM100 million compensation for the cancellation of the "scenic bridge" to replace the Johor Causeway.

The minister said the ministry knew how to evaluate the compensation request as it was "not as stupid as they (PAC) think".