PETALING JAYA: A federal minister’s wife has been named as the owner of two companies that allegedly misappropriated funds for the RM9 billion littoral combat ship (LCS) project.
PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said the two companies bore names similar to a French company. The companies were registered as offshore companies in Malta and Labuan.
FMT is withholding the name of the official, who once served as the deputy defence minister, and his wife pending comment.
The wife’s company was appointed as technical consultants and suppliers of spare parts and sent invoices for work that was never done.
In a statement, Rafizi said that as a result, as much as RM243 million was misappropriated.
He said the schemes to misappropriate LCS funds using companies linked to the then deputy defence minister was no coincidence.
Rafizi said he has been demanding an explanation from then defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and then prime minister Najib Razak as it was “impossible” that any misappropriation of funds could happen without their knowledge.
“I hope today’s expose silences Umno and Barisan Nasional who have been trying to pin the blame on retired navy personnel.
“I also hope Perikatan Nasional leaders from Bersatu and PAS leaders realise the LCS issue will affect them as one of their top leaders and his family were directly involved in the companies that misappropriated funds meant for the LCS project.”
On Aug 8, Rafizi claimed he was in possession of leaked documents that gave the impression that a deal for the LCS was “pre-determined” even before the government signed its agreement with Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS).
He said these documents, as well as the defence ministry and BNS’ dismissal of the navy’s views on the design of the ships, suggested political interference in the procurement of the ships.
The LCS project for the navy has come under scrutiny for its cost and delay in delivery after Putrajaya had spent RM6.08 billion but none of the six ships have been completed or delivered, according to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.
