THE government must declassify Ambrin Buang’s special investigation report on the procurement of the six second-generation littoral combat ships (LCS), former defence minister Mohamad Sabu and his deputy Liew Chin Tong said.

“The report contains detailed financial information that is not fully disclosed in the Public Accounts Committee report released last week,” they said in a joint statement today. 

After taking over in 2018, the Pakatan Harapan government had commissioned former auditor-general Ambrin to carry out a series of investigation reports into government procurement and finances. 

While Ambrin’s report on land deals involving the Defence Ministry was tabled in Parliament in 2019, other reports have yet to be released.

Mohamad and Liew also called on the cabinet to declassify Boustead Naval Shipyard’s (BNS) forensic report on the LCS that was done by Alliance IFA in 2019.

“This forensic report is crucial as it contains details of exactly who was culpable at the operational level.

“And thirdly, the government must also declassify the 10 letters by former navy chief Admiral Abdul Aziz Jaafar, who was at the helm from April 1, 2008 until November 17, 2015,” said Mohamad and Liew.

They said that the Aziz’s letters would show the former navy chief’s warnings to the government on the LCS procurement.

“For the sake of finding a solution for the multi-billion ringgit LCS scandal, the cabinet meeting on Wednesday must agree to classify these letters and documents,” they said.

Despite more than 11 years after the RM9 billion LCS contract was awarded to BNS, the navy has yet to take delivery of its first vessel.

However, despite the protracted delay, the government has paid RM6 billion to BNS, the largest shareholder of which is Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera, with a 61% stake. – August 8, 2022.