'Helicopter money': Speaker rejects PN MP's motion to sanction Guan Eng
PARLIAMENT | Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul has rejected a motion filed by Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN - Machang) to sanction Lim Guan Eng (Pakatan Harapan - Bagan).
In a correspondence to Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, Johari said the words used by Lim in the former's motion did not amount to "impute improper motives" or "misleading the house".
On Oct 11, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal filed a motion to refer Lim to the Rights and Privileges Committee over the latter's speech on the same day.
Therein, Lim had made reference to what Wan Ahmad Fayhsal told BFM on Nov 16, 2020, where the latter - who was the deputy minister for youth and sports at the time - proposed that the government forgive debts and "print money".
Subsequent to the radio interview, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal (above, left) was criticised for his proposal because of the inflationary risks involved.
However, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal defended his claim, stating that modern monetary theory (MMT) experts believe that as long as the country produces enough goods and services to be spent on, inflation would not be a problem.
Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul
During Lim's speech while debating Budget 2024 on Oct 11, he criticised Wan Ahmad Fayhsal for the suggestion, adding that it would lead the country to economic ruin.
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, in filing the motion to the speaker's office, argued that Lim had cited him out of context.
"He had imputed improper motives by stating that (my suggestion) would lead to the collapse of the nation's financial system," said the Bersatu leader.
On Oct 16, Lim had written to Johari to allege that Wan Ahmad Fayhsal's motion was an abuse of parliamentary process.
Lim argued that Wan Ahmad Fayhsal had defended the idea of "printing money" before and this was proof that what he told in Dewan Rakyat was true.
The former finance minister said he was not alone in criticising the idea as even former treasury chief secretary Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim had described it as a "banana republic idea".
"It’s clear that I did not impute improper motives during my speech on the idea to 'print money' or 'helicopter money' by the member for Machang," said Lim.
During Lim's speech while debating Budget 2024 on Oct 11, he criticised Wan Ahmad Fayhsal for the suggestion, adding that it would lead the country to economic ruin.
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, in filing the motion to the speaker's office, argued that Lim had cited him out of context.
"He had imputed improper motives by stating that (my suggestion) would lead to the collapse of the nation's financial system," said the Bersatu leader.
On Oct 16, Lim had written to Johari to allege that Wan Ahmad Fayhsal's motion was an abuse of parliamentary process.
Lim argued that Wan Ahmad Fayhsal had defended the idea of "printing money" before and this was proof that what he told in Dewan Rakyat was true.
The former finance minister said he was not alone in criticising the idea as even former treasury chief secretary Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim had described it as a "banana republic idea".
"It’s clear that I did not impute improper motives during my speech on the idea to 'print money' or 'helicopter money' by the member for Machang," said Lim.
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