THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has the right to summon any department or agency to seek an explanation regarding the delay in the delivery of three offshore patrol vessels (OPV) to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

“No pressure… PAC is an independent body representing both the government and the opposition, and chaired by the opposition,” the prime minister said when asked if there was pressure for the PAC to expedite its proceedings.

“PAC has the right to summon any department or government agency, ministry or anyone if there are issues that needed to be explained. It’s up to them.

“We (the government) were informed that the vessels were still under construction and would be ready soon. So, let’s wait. I personally do not have the details on the OPV.”

Ismail said this after the launch of Semarak Patriotik IPT 2022 at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur today.

In a statement on September 13, the MMEA said the three OPV that should have been delivered to the agency in 2020 were still under construction.

Its director-general, Maritime Admiral Mohd Zubil Mat Som, said the OPV were being built by a local company, THHE Destini Sdn Bhd, in Pulau Indah, Selangor. – Bernama, September 15, 2022.