PETALING JAYA: Parliamentary select committee (PSC) proceedings, including the one scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the share ownership controversy involving the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief, will not be opened to the public, says the Dewan Rakyat Speaker.

       Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun explained that this was due to all proceedings of select and other committees being subject to provisions of the Standing Orders, which he said barred open proceedings.

       “In fact, it disallows discussion or even disclosure of witness statements and contents of the proceeding until a report has been presented to the Dewan Rakyat.

       “This is to preserve the integrity of the proceedings, and ensure complete cooperation from everyone involved,” he said when contacted yesterday.

       Azhar was responding to former member of the MACC’s Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel Prof Dr Edmund Terence Gomez who called for Wednesday’s meeting, in which MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki is expected to be queried about his shares ownership controversy, to be opened to the public and media.

       Gomez was reported to have said that this was important to ensure that there was no attempt to hide the truth.

       Azam is expected to be questioned by the PSC for Agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department.According to PSC member and Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin, Azam has been notified and is to appear before the nine-member committee at 2pm in Parliament.

       Azhar had formed 10 new Special Select Committees last year to specifically look into key government and ministerial issues.

       Select committees have the prerogative to summon witnesses.

       Previous hearings scrutinised how Putrajaya spent taxpayers’ money.