Motion to debate MAS’ losses rejected

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat has rejected an emergency motion to debate the losses amounting to RM1.2bil incurred last year by Malaysia Airlines.

Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said the motion, which was tabled by Lip Lim Eng (DAP-Segambut), did not fulfil the requirements for an emergency motion as detailed in the Standing Orders 18(1).

The motions need to be specific, urgent and in public interest.

“I have found that the government is already taking action to determine the cause of the airline’s loss and it is looking for a solution for the matter brought up.

“Now that it is being investigated, then it is not urgent (to be debated),” said Pandikar, in a written reply to Lim.

In the motion that was submitted on June 6, Lim had requested that Dewan Rakyat discuss the losses incurred by the national airline last year and recorded net loss of RM433.4mil in the first quarter of 2014.

“MAS has recorded huge losses for three years in a row. Therefore, MAS’ management looks weak and can no longer compete with other airlines especially after flight MH370’s disappearance,” noted Lim.

Lim said the light needed to be shed on the reasons behind the losses and whether the government should declare bankruptcy to avoid further losses burdening taxpayers.