Chee How on why select committee is necessary

KUCHING, Nov 13, 2014: Batu Lintang state lawmaker See Chee How today reiterated his proposal for the setting up of State Assembly Select Committee similar to the UK Commons Select Committee for each government department, to monitor examine and supervise their spending, policies and administration.

"After India had initiated its parliamentary reform in 1919, most countries which are practising the Westminster democracy have initiated and implemented parliamentary reforms to address the inherent problems which are aimed at restoring the independence of their country’s legislative arm of government," he said.

Debating the State Budget 2015 in the State Assembly, he said:" In the context of our State and the  State Legislative Assembly, we do realise that the business of government is heavy and wide-ranging today, and we cannot expect all our State Assembly members to be informed about every issue that is affecting the State.

"In my humble opinion, learning the lessons from the other parliamentary legislative assemblies, our  State Assembly can make constructive and effectual recommendations on how the governance and government can be improved," he added.

He believes that the working of these select committee is the answer to the needed mechanism to ensure that the state will be disciplined and prudent in our financial management.

He said with all the state lawmakers taking and sharing the greater responsibility the government and the state will be more vigilant in upholding the highest standards of prudent financial and resource management, thus ensuring transparency, accountability, good governance and integrity of the state.

"With such select committees in place, all ministries, departments, statutory bodies and local authorities will ensure financial compliance to improve work practices and to enable the state to achieve a higher level of integrity, credibility and accountability in the public service," See stressed.

 He also noted that Chief Minister Adenan Satem had repeated reminded the state lawmakers that it doesn’t matter whether they are in the ruling camp or in the opposition, but they are all Sarawakians and working for the cause of Sarawak.

" I certainly hope that the new administration will herald the necessary structural and institutional reforms for the betterment of Sarawak," See added.

He also congratulated the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues for a budget that has surpassed the RM5 billion mark for the first time, the impressive revised revenue collection this year and sustained high growth projection for the next year.

"I am particularly moved and motivated by chief minister’s nagging reminder highlighted in many parts of the budget speech that the state needs to be disciplined and prudent in our financial management," he said.

"He also repeated advices to all ministries, Departments, statutory bodies and local authorities that they must ensure financial compliance to improve work practices so to enable the state to achieve a higher level of integrity, credibility and accountability in the public service. "