FORMER defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today cautioned that declassifying documents relating to the littoral combat ship (LCS) project might affect state secrets.

He said there are concerns on the matter, therefore Putrajaya needed to deal with the issue wisely and transparently so as not to be influenced by public opinion.

“The PAC (Public Accounts Committee) should be more sensitive in its probe, especially regarding the LCS as it involves national security and it is still under investigation,” Zahid posted on Facebook today.

On Thursday, PAC disclosed the findings of its investigation into the acquisition. It revealed that not a single ship had been delivered after the government paid the maker RM6 billion.

According to the original schedule, six ships should have been delivered by this month. 

Earlier today, former defence minister Mohamad Sabu and his deputy Liew Chin Tong had called on the government to declassify the report by the former auditor-general Ambrin Buang’s special investigation on the procurement of the six ships.

“The report contains detailed financial information that is not fully disclosed in the PAC 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 investigations 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.

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.