FORMER defence minister Mohamad Sabu and his then deputy Liew Chin Tong have questioned the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on their delay in taking action against those involved in the scandal-tainted littoral combat ship (LCS) project.

They said the anti-graft agency should act immediately since they have sufficient information from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), declassified forensic audit report as well as the Governance, Procurement and Finance Investigation Committee (JKSTUPKK) reports.

“Since the PAC report on the LCS project was released on August 4, followed by the declassification of two related reports, MACC should have had sufficient information and evidence to carry out investigations, arrests and prosecution against individuals involved,” they said in a joint statement.

“During this time, MACC had sent representatives to all PAC proceedings. They also received copies of all JKSTUPKK reports and also the forensic audit report on the project.”

Apart from acting on those reports, Mohamad and Liew also want MACC to explain to parliament the reasons for the delay in investigation, arrests and prosecution.

MACC had earlier said investigations were ongoing.

To date, only one officer, former navy chief vice-admiral Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor, has been charged in relation to the scandal.

He is former Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) managing director.

Mohamad and Liew also called for a fresh forensic audit on Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation on the project to obtain complete information about all transactions and activities relating to the implementation of the project and the letter of award from 2015 to now.

Since there were issues on the use of LCS funds for the payment of New Generation Patrol Vessel’s (NGPV) bad debt by BNS, the duo also said the report of JKSTUPKK on the six NGPVs, Integrated Logistic Support and Commercial Package Programme by the navy should be declassified.

On August 4 this year, 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 this month.

The contract for supply of six ships by BNS became a hot topic 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 JKSTUPKK, 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.

According to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the people have a right to an explanation on the procurement scandal.

He said the furore surrounding the RM9.13 billion contract should be prudently explained to prevent speculation and people jumping to conclusions. – August 24, 2022.