THERE was no motion to debate the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) report into Bank Negara Malaysia’s forex losses, said Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

He said the opposition must understand that every debate has to start with a motion. 

“Every debate will have to start with a motion. There was no motion from the opposition and the government. So how is it going to be debated?” he said at a press conference.

When asked about opposition leaders questioning the tabling of the report on the last day of Parliament for the year, Pandikar said he is only the speaker.

Earlier when the RCI report was tabled, Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) said the report must be debated as it involved former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim. 

“I want confirmation whether the RCI report – a matter so serious that it calls for action to be taken against the former prime minister and finance minister at the time – will be put to a debate. 

“Can time be given to allow the debate? Can we debate this matter?” Lim, who is also the DAP secretary-general, said in the Dewan Rakyat.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said replied that she would decide later as Lim had only just raised the matter in the house.

The RCI had proposed that police investigate Dr Mahathir, Anwar, a member of the BNM board of directors, the National Audit Department and the Finance Ministry.

The RCI was set up to verify allegations of massive foreign currency trading losses BNM incurred in the 1990s.

Its term of reference included whether there was an attempt to conceal the losses and attempts by senior officials to fool the cabinet, Parliament and the public.

Forty-two documents were submitted during proceedings. Twenty-five witnesses – including Dr Mahathir, Anwar, and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, testified during the eight days of hearing. – November 30, 2017.