THE probe into the littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal will not stop as the prosecution did not act against the key players involved.
According to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the initial probe into the scandal was insufficient due to the magnitude of the scandal and leakage.
“Investigations must continue regardless of who the scandal involves, even if it is an UMNO member. I think further action is needed to ensure the main players involved in the scandal can be held accountable,” he said during the Minister’s Question Time (MQT) session in Dewan Rakyat today (March 14).
Anwar further pointed out that Putrajaya encourages enforcement authorities such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to conduct additional investigations and prosecute if sufficient evidence is available.
At a press conference yesterday, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the government would choose between building its own vessels or acquiring completed ones.
The Rembau MP also said everybody needs to be consulted before a decision can be made as the most essential factor is that the ships are delivered on time.
Last month, the Investigating Committee on Governance, Procurement, and Finance report from Aug 2022 suggested that Putrajaya could pay an eye-watering RM11.145 bil for the six vessels, an additional RM1.416 bil from the RM9 bil figure agreed in the late 2011.
Earlier on, Mohamad mentioned that his ministry has followed through with most of the recommendations put forth by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in its report.
However, he noted that two out of the six suggestions could not be carried out because they involve sending periodic reports to the PAC and the parliamentary special select committee, both of which have yet to be formed with new members following the dissolution of Parliament on Oct 10 last year.
The LCS project underwent intense scrutiny last year when the PAC stated that none of the six ships ordered had been completed despite the payment of RM6.08 bil.
On Oct 2 last year, then defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein stated that development of the ships would recommence once negotiations ended in December.
The first LCS, which is predicted to be completed next year, is expected to undergo 22 to 24 months of harbour and sea trials before entering active service. – March 14, 2023
Main pic credit: Defence Security Asia
