In a statement, the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) singled out Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) and Noh Omar (BN-Tanjung Karang) as members of the committee which it believed should be replaced.

C4 said the speaker must reconsider these two appointments, as their inclusion would bring into question the “integrity and trustworthiness of PAC as a whole”, and would therefore jeopardise the committee’s role in championing government transparency.

Ahmad had been charged with money laundering after he failed to state his income on the RM2 million he received from former prime minister Najib Razak in his income tax return form for 2013, thus violating Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967.

“It is not only laughable but ultimately alarming that someone being charged with poor transparency and governance is being appointed to a committee meant for maintaining good governance and upholding transparency,” the statement read.

In the case of Noh, the group cited a comment he made during a parliamentary session on April 4, 2019. Noh had said that “stealing is not wrong, only when you are arrested it becomes wrong”.

“The analogy, while given in the spirit of emphasising that someone is innocent until proven guilty, is worded in a way that is alarming and ultimately suspect for the purposes of the PAC,” C4 said.

Yesterday, 12 new PAC members were confirmed, with eight coming from the government and four from the opposition.

Besides Ahmad Maslan and Noh Omar, the other new government members are Mohd Fasiah Fakeh (PPBM-Sabak Bernam), Yamani Hafez Musa (PPBM-Sipitang), Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu), Lukanisman Awang Sauni (GPS-Sibuti), Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PAS-Pasir Mas) and Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PAS-Sik).

Those appointed from the opposition are PH’s Nurul Izzah Anwar (Permatang Pauh), Mohd Hatta Ramli (Lumut) and Wong Shu Qi (Kluang) and Warisan’s Ahmad Hassan (Papar).