THE people have a right to an explanation about the littoral combat ship (LCS) procurement scandal, and the government will not cover it up because it boils down to integrity, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

According to Ismail, the furore surrounding the RM9.13 billion contract should be prudently explained to avoid speculation and people jumping to conclusions.

“The previous government failed because it did not properly explain 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) to the people.

“That ultimately led to people speculating and drawing their own conclusions on what had happened – or what they thought had happened.

“Yet, because we failed to give a proper explanation, the issue eventually blew up,” he said last night.

On August 4 this year, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed that its nine inquiry sessions into the LCS project since November 18, 2020, found that not even a single ship had been completed, although the contract awarded through direct negotiations stated that five ships should have been built and delivered by August 2022.

The contract for supply of six ships by Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) became a hot issue after it was revealed that the project, scheduled for implementation in a 10-year period from October 3, 2013, to October 2, 2023, was only 53.3% complete as of May 31, 2019.

Based on a report, by the investigating committee on governance, procurement and finance, which was declassified on Wednesday, a total of RM5.94 billion had been paid by the Defence Ministry to BNS for the project to date.

Ismail said that due to this, he decided to make public the classified findings of the investigating committee.

“We believe that regardless of the people’s perception, we must provide an explanation and we cannot cover up… we must be transparent; let the people see for themselves,” he added.

The Umno vice-president said he believed that the opposition would continue to harangue the government about the LCS issue, as it had with 1MDB, but what was of importance now was how the government responded.

“Now there is one case, with a person already charged in court. I am given to understand that one or two more cases will be brought to court.

“Yet, I believe that no matter whoever is brought to court, this issue will continue to be played up.

“We can’t say when this issue will die down. For me, the important thing is that I have told the cabinet that explanations to the people on this issue are imperative,” he said. – Bernama, August 21, 2022.