Why the silence on cabotage debate, Guan Eng asks Wee

 

Lim Guan Eng (left) says there has been ‘no update’ from Wee Ka Siong on his challenge to a debate on the cabotage policy.

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng is waiting for an update from transport minister Wee Ka Siong after accepting the MCA president’s challenge to hold a public debate on the cabotage policy.

Raising Rule 36 (12) of the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders, Lim (PH-Bagan) said he had accepted Wee’s challenge on the spot during the question-and-answer session during proceedings last Thursday.

“Though I accepted the challenge immediately, until now there has been no follow-up. Is the transport minister making an empty challenge?

“I didn’t make the challenge, he did. But until now there has been no update. I want to know when the debate on the cabotage policy will be held,” he said.

The standing order cited by Lim states: “Any member who imputes statements that mislead the House is deemed to be in contempt of the House and the member may be referred to the Committee of Privileges for the offence.”

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun said he will follow-up on the matter with the transport minister, since he was also chairing the proceedings when Wee made the challenge to Lim.

Last Thursday, a heated argument erupted between the two political party leaders over the cabotage policy, with Lim saying it could cost Malaysia RM12 billion to RM15 billion in foreign investments.

The cabotage exemption had previously allowed foreign vessels to perform undersea repair jobs in Malaysian waters.

However, in November, Wee revoked the exemption for submarine cable repair, and dismissed claims that it would affect investments. - FMT