LCS: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission completes probe on individuals
Published on: Friday, August 12, 2022
By: Bernama
MACC said the investigation papers have been submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) with the recommendation to charge several individuals.
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has completed several investigation papers on individuals linked to the alleged misappropriation in handling the littoral combat ship (LCS) construction project. In a statement Thursday, the MACC said the investigation papers have been submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) with the recommendation to charge several individuals.ADVERTISEMENT
“Subsequently, the MACC will receive further instructions after the AGC has studied the investigation papers,” he said.
On Wednesday, the Cabinet urged the MACC to expedite the investigation into the LCS issue.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Cabinet had discussed the matter in detail in its meeting and has called on the Attorney-General to prosecute and bring the culprits to justice if there is enough evidence.
On Thursday, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) disclosed that the committee had held nine proceedings regarding the LCS issue starting on Nov 18, 2020 and it was found that though the contract was awarded through direct negotiation and RM6.083 billion was paid by the government, not even one LCS ship has been delivered, when five ships should be ready by August 2022.ADVERTISEMENT
Meanwhile, veteran lawmaker Lim Kit Siang welcomed the Cabinet’s decision to declassify reports on the RM9 billion littoral combat ships (LCS) for the navy amid increasing criticism that it is turning into the country’s next financial scandal after 1MDB.
But the Iskandar Puteri MP said the Government should do more than just declassify the report of the Committee on Procurement, Governance and Finance chaired by former Auditor-General Ambrin Buang and the report from a forensic audit on the LCS project.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The Cabinet must go one step further — to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry not only to bring the wrongdoers to book but to find the best solution to the RM9 billion LCS scandal to protect the security and sovereignty of the nation,” he said in a statement.
“The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on the RM9 billion LCS scandal should be a best-seller, as it is an absorbing horror stories of corruption, fraud, abuse of power, mismanagement and criminality in the public service,” he added.
The DAP politician who previously noted concerns of “hidden hands” behind the delay of the construction of the military asset today blamed former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for it.
“Now I understand why Najib had been so active on his Facebook in the past week to defend the RM9 billion LCS scandal and even to blame the Pakatan Harapan for the scandal,” Lim said.
He said the Pekan MP’s reply to Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching on Wednesday provided proof that Najib was pulling strings of the LCS project behind the scenes.
“He was not only the prime minister and the finance minister at the relevant time of the procurement of the six LCS, but he was defence minister twice, the first time from year 1991 to 1995 and the second time from year 2000 to 2008,” Lim said.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
