KUALA LUMPUR (March 25): Responding to criticism of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his stand on retaining Datuk Ronald Kiandee as Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson, a Deputy Minister has called on Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders to exercise restraint and appreciate the PM’s efforts to turn the country around.

Mohd Hanipa Maidin, who is a Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, also called on PH members to stop their attacks on Mahathir's critics.

Hanipa, who is also Sepang MP, said Mahathir is not the perfect PM but asked whether anyone fitted the bill.

"But like it or not, Tun is our best PM at this moment particularly at this critical hour,” he said in comments to The Edge Markets.

"Needless to say, our respected PM has been working tirelessly since he assumed his premiership, in order to bring genuine reforms for this beloved nation.

"One thing is for sure: he has been working very hard to get rid of Malaysia's image as a kleptocratic nation. For that he should be continuously supported and assisted," the Parti Amanah Negara legal director said.

Mahathir has been criticised for wanting to retain Kiandee as PAC chairman although he had recently joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. This was a beach of the PH election manifesto for the 14th general election, which promised to reserve the post for an Opposition MP.

Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is also PKR vice president has resigned as a PAC member. Today all three BN PAC members also resigned.

Nurul Izzah had received flak from some PH leaders for her criticism of Mahathir in an interview with the Straits Times of Singapore.

Hanipa said that in the spirit of "Malaysia Baru" (New Malaysia), anybody had the right to criticise the Prime Minister.

"But the critic has to be fair. We equally have to be fair to the critic. Any critic is entitled to vent his or her frustration on our PM. Such frustration might be right or it might be misplaced.

"I don’t think it is wrong to be duly upset on the issue of retaining the PAC chairman, which is contrary to the PH manifesto," Hanipa said.

"Frustration aside, our criticism should never go overboard. The criticism should never be unfair. Unfortunately, unfair criticism does happen. It spoils the true spirit of democracy," the Deputy Minister said.

Nevertheless, Hanipa said that is how democracy works.

"But we still need to be fair to both sides. Fairness is a quintessential element in the rule of law," he said.

Hanipa said that we are doing a great disservice by ignoring the painful reality that the PM and his Government has inherited the worst legacy in the nation’s history.