No more secrets, handling of LCS issue must be made public

Focus

By KOUSALYA SELVAM

09 Aug 2022 10:10am

Illustration photo: BERNAMA FILE PIX

KUALA TERENGGANU - While it may risk exposing the country’s secrets, the handling of the yet-to-delivered littoral combat ships (LCS) controversy must not be done behind closed-door.

#RasuahBusters chief executive officer Nurhayati Nordin stressed that this should be the way to handle the matter going forward as the issue which involved the procurement of six ships worth RM6 billion was too massive to be dealt with in a hush-hush manner.

“The leadership of this country should wisely navigate the perspective and provide transparent verification in responding to the will of the people to the truth, especially in this matter.

“Malaysians have the right to know what is happening to analyse what is best for their well-being and safety now and in the future.

“If there is any information that needs to be classified as a national secret, the government should be wise to determine what kind of communication is necessary to deal with this issue,” said Nurhayati.

The narrative on the need for meticulous secrecy over the controversy was espoused by former defence minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday.

“The PAC (Public Accounts Committee) should be more sensitive in its probe, especially regarding the LCS as it involves national security and is still under investigation,” Zahid on Facebook.

The LCS controversy was put into the limelight last week after the PAC released its finding on the project, which highlighted several peculiarities.

This includes the alleged cold shoulder received by the Royal Malaysian Navy chief by the Defence Ministry in which the latter ignored the former views on the project and the fact that not a single ship was completed and delivered despite Putrajaya having spent RM6 billion on it.

The project was awarded to Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd via direct negotiations in 2011 during the Barisan Nasional administration.

Zahid was among the top officials summoned by the PAC when it probed the matter.

The others summoned included current Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Muez Abd Aziz, former auditor-general Tan Sri Ambrin Buang, current Navy Chief Datuk Mohd Reza Mohd Sany and BNS’ CEO and chief operating officer.

Yesterday, Hishammuddin told the Dewan Negara that the first vessel would be completed within two years, and his ministry would ensure the ships would be built according to the schedule.

The schedule, he said, would be made public.

Since the issue went public, Zahid dismissed allegations that linked him to the mismanagement of the project, and stated that he was not the defence minister at the time the project was awarded and only held the portfolio from April 2009 to May 2013.

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli alleged that an internal investigation revealed that RM890 million was embezzled from the project due to fraud, overlapping contracts, and other misappropriations.

Meanwhile, DAP assemblyman Liew Chin Tong said Zahid should not deny his responsibility in the matter and claimed the latter had approved the project in 2011 as the then defence minister.