“There should be lawyers, accountants and economists among others who can advise this committee on matters of finance, for example” G25 adviser Mohd Sheriff Kassim said at the group’s public forum held at the Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) here today.

Sheriff said this would help better formulate questions regarding issues such as state-owned invstment fund, 1MDB.

He said this was in the face of some ministers claiming MPs are not well equipped to talk about certain matters.

“MPs also give excuses that they prefer to talk about women’s skirts rather than complicated finance matters,” he said, alluding to Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin criticising DAP’s Seputeh MP Teresa Kok in April 2014 over the length of her skirt.

Sheriff, who is also chairman of highway operator PLUS Malaysia Berhad, said all that was needed in order to actualise his suggestion was political will.

“Some say even when you have that panel, the select committee might not want to raise questions aimed at some ministers because they don’t want to embarass those ministers, being their friends.

“I remember watching a BBC programme where a parliamentary select committee asked former British prime minister Tony Blair why the country became involved in the war in Iraq in 2003.

“None of the members raised any questions and instead it was the queen’s council who asked. This means the council was appointed by the select committee. We can do that here,” he said.