Sivakumar to appear before PAC on Nov 2 over issues involving HRD Corp

KUALA LUMPUR: Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar (pic) will appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Nov 2 to provide statements on the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), says its chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.

She said a report by a news portal, claiming that the minister had been summoned before the PAC on Monday (Oct 23), was not accurate.

Mas Ermieyati also denied a report on Oct 24 by another news portal, claiming the PAC was worried that there is a lack of monitoring in the HRD Corp.

The Masjid Tanah MP reminded the media that all PAC proceedings are under the Official Secrets Act 1972 (Act 88) and publishing such reports is in violation of the Standing Order 85.

“I hope the media will be more careful and responsible by acquiring news from authentic sources.

“The decision to summon the two witnesses was because their names have been mentioned in the first proceeding as well as to be fair to them,” she told a press conference at the Parliament building on Thursday (Oct 26).

According to Mas Ermieyati, the other witness who will appear before the PAC is a Finance Ministry representative in HRD Corp on Nov 1.

On Oct 19, she said the PAC will begin proceedings on its probe into the management of HRD Corp involving its funds and training programmes on Oct 23.

She said although issues surrounding the HRD Corp were not highlighted in the Auditor-General’s Report, the proceedings would be conducted in accordance with the Parliamentary Standing Order 77(1).

Meanwhile, Mas Ermieyati said the PAC report on the progress of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project for the period of June to September 2023 is in the midst of being completed.

“PAC is currently getting the report ready and we expect the report to be tabled (in the Dewan Rakyat) during the current session,” she said.