KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor issued a final warning to Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz(PN-Tanah Merah) that he would impose a five-day suspension after he refused to heed warnings to keep his question short and to stop interjections.
“Tanah Merah, one more time and I will issue five days. I am not joking,” said Ramli who was presiding over the session.
This came about after the former deputy defence minister had a tense exchange with his successor and incumbent deputy minister Adly Zahari over helicopter procurement.
During his supplementary question, Ikmal once again questioned the more than RM16bil acquisition of 28 new-generation helicopters through a lease-to-own model in what has been touted as one of the most expensive defence deals, through the Government Operate, Company Owned and Maintain (GOCOM) model.
Ikmal has raised the matter several times in the Dewan Rakyat, claiming that the choppers were not capable of performing under-slung and claimed that the acquisition was made in a hurry without proper test runs.
He said the government is now defending the establishment of an assembly factory in Batu Berendam, Melaka for the Leonardo AW149 helicopter choppers when there are Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in Subang Airport.
“Who will own the company?,” he asked.
Ramli then repeatedly asked Ikmal to pose his question.
Ikmal asked if the ministry was becoming a spokesperson for the Weststar Group.
Adly, in reply, said Batu Berendam has the capabilities for the aerospace industry in addition to Subang.
Adly said the ministry had several times clarified on the capabilities of the AW149 choppers including underslung capabilities.
“Tanah Merah has repeated the same questions over and over again.
“Saying we at the ministry are a spokesperson for a private company is completely untrue,” he said, adding that the ministry has always answered questions.
Ikmal then interjected saying that the ministry should conduct a test drive, which prompted Ramli’s warning.
