Wee says will not run away from cabotage debate with Guan Eng

 

PARLIAMENT | Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said he will arrange a suitable date to debate with Lim Guan Eng (Pakatan Harapan-Bagan) after the cabinet has finalised the cabotage policy this month.

This was conveyed to Lim in the Dewan Rakyat today by speaker Azhar Azizan Harun, who had previously offered to follow up on the issue.

“I have brought this matter to the minister’s attention and the minister gave the following feedback.

“He said he is ready and will not run away. He said after the cabinet has finalised the cabotage policy this month, he will arrange a suitable date to discuss and examine the issue with you on any TV channels or media network in the national language,” Azhar said to Lim.

Lim had earlier brought up the debate challenge, suggesting they hold it on Oct 23, 2021 with Ong Kian Ming (Harapan-Bangi) in charge of the logistics.

On Sept 30, Wee and Lim had argued in Parliament over the cabotage policy on ships engaged in the repairs of undersea internet cables.

In the midst of their argument, Wee had challenged Lim to a debate on the matter, which the latter agreed to immediately.

Lim raised the issue in the Dewan Rakyat again on Oct 5, saying there had been no follow-ups on the debate challenge from Wee, prompting Azhar to volunteer to get the minister’s feedback.

In today’s session, Lim pointed out the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) chairperson Rais Husin had resigned from his position as he did not want to be a “yes man”.

Rais had been vocally critical of Wee’s stand on the cabotage policy, including describing him as a “minister with an IQ of cabbage”.

“Lim is going to have this cabbage for breakfast if the debate ever happens,” Rais had said.

Tech giants have written to the government multiple times to restore the Harapan-era exemption to expedite the repair of internet cables.

Wee, however, maintained his decision to reinstate the cabotage, saying it would help the local shipping industry to develop, but the tech giants raised concerns of a monopoly. - Mkini