Dewan Negara approves motion to debate controversial LCS fiasco 

KUALA LUMPUR - Dewan Negara has approved a motion to debate on the controversial littoral combat ship (LCS) issue before the sitting ends next Tuesday.

Dewan Negara Senator Muhammad Zahid Md Arip said the Defence Senior Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein will answer all questions raised.

"This proposal (motion) has been approved by Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Rais Yatim and will be debated before Dewan Negara sitting ends on Aug 16.

"This debate session will be the best stage for the government, especially for the defence ministry through its minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to answer all issues raised," he said.

"This is because he has carried the responsibility of a defense minister twice, when the LCS contract was signed in 2014 and now," he said at a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday.

On Aug 9, three Dewan Negara members had asked for the controversial LCS issue to be debated before the end of the session, next Tuesday.

The proposal was submitted by Senator Lim Hui Ying, Senator Fadhlina Sidek and Datuk A Kesavadas Nair who wanted to know more about the procurement of LCS project under the Defence Ministry.

In the meantime, Zahid assured Hishammuddin that he would be present for the debate and denied rumors that the Sembrong MP would not be present.

"I would like to emphasise that as his friend, I assure that he will be present and answer all the questions. "If he has the plans to go abroad, I am sure he will postpone the visit and change it to another date," he said.