Late delivery of combat ships ‘beyond my knowledge’, says Zahid

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 18 Dec 2020 6:52PM · 3 Comments

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says he is unaware why six combat ships for the navy were delivered late as he was no longer defence minister in 2019. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 18, 2020.

AHMAD Zahid Hamidi said the failure to supply six second-generation littoral combat ships (LCS) arose in 2019 when he no longer held the post of defence minister.

Zahid said he held the post from April 2009 to May 2013.

“I would like to stress that I resigned as defence minister in 2013 and did not serve (in the post) in 2019, surely this issue is beyond my knowledge,” he said in a statement today.

He said the LCS were built by Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) Sdn Bhd, owned by Boustead Holdings Bhd.

Zahid said the largest shareholder in Boustead Holdings Bhd is the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT), while the second largest shareholder is The Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP) which are both owned by the government.

Referring to the audit report raised by Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Wong Kah Woh, Zahid said the awarding of the contract to Boustead was in accordance with the Guidelines for the Application of Direct Negotiation Procurement dated April 17, 2002.

He said it clearly mentioned that direct negotiations could only be made after obtaining the approval of the Finance Ministry and not the defence minister.

Zahid also said he respects the role and jurisdiction of the PAC but the committee should be more sensitive in its investigations, especially in matters involving national security.

“I would like to emphasise that this explanation does not change my intention to continue to cooperate and assist PAC in completing its investigation,” he said.

Yesterday, the media reported that PAC will call Zahid early next month to complete the proceedings regarding the failure to supply the six LCS. – Bernama, December 18, 2020.

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Comments

  • Its not about the missing ships but about the missing money to build the ships!! That, as we can rightly surmise has gone into one of you many pockets!!

    Posted 3 years ago by Alphonz Jayaratnam · Reply

  • Its not about the missing ships but about the missing money to build the ships!! That, as we can rightly surmise has gone into one of you many pockets!!

    Posted 3 years ago by Alphonz Jayaratnam · Reply

  • Its not about the missing ships but about the missing money for building the ships. That we can rightly surmise would have gone into one of your many pockets!!!

    Posted 3 years ago by Alphonz Jayaratnam · Reply