KUALA LUMPUR: An emergency motion to discuss the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project scandal was rejected by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.

The motion, which was submitted by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar), was rejected on the grounds that it was not of public interest and not of urgent need.

Syed Saddiq submitted the motion last week and he revealed that he received the response from the Speaker earlier today.

"I hope this can be reconsidered to at least discuss this at Special Chambers.

"The cost was RM6 billion, then RM9 billion, and now additional RM2.1 billion.

"No further charges made, billions spent, not even one ship was delivered, and now the number of ships were also reduced.

"I hope this can be reconsidered as there is an urgent need, it is clear that it is people's issues as it involves public money, issues of sovereignty and national security," he said during a question and answer session today.

Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor told Syed Saddiq that they were bound by the rulings.

He said as a member of parliament for the second term, Syed Saddiq should know better about using the existing rulings to appeal on the decision.

"I urge you to appeal according to the existing rulings," he said to which Syed Saddiq agreed to do so soon.

Earlier, Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari was answering questions on the LCS project as posed by Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (PN-Tanah Merah).

The LCS project worth RM9.128 was plagued with delays with none delivered to date.

Six were ordered and five were to have been delivered by August last year.

Investigations were launched against several people, but so far only one person has been charged over the case.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/917761/emergency-motion-debate-lcs-project-rejected