[UPDATED] What was progress of LCS under Pakatan, Najib swipes back

KUALA LUMPUR – Not one to lose a war of words, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak launched a new salvo against the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on the alleged multibillion-ringgit littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal, claiming it is a ploy by the opposition ahead of the general election.

Taking to Facebook this morning, Najib accused Pakatan Harapan (PH) of making a mistake by halting the LCS project when it assumed federal power, claiming the project was 55.7% complete at that time.

He also slammed PH for freezing the project in September 2019.

“As the government at that time, they (PH) should have made sure that the LCS were delivered as scheduled (in 2019) instead of not doing anything. Why were they silent then?

“It has now become propaganda ahead of GE15 with accusations being thrown around on why the LCS were not delivered. You (PH) postponed (the project), you froze it and now you are asking why the ships are not ready?”

Najib, who was prime minister before PH took over, prodded the PAC for not providing answers to several of his questions.

“What is the progress of the project from end 2014 to May 2018 (before GE14) and from May 2018 to September 2019 (when the project was stopped by PH)?

“I have asked (for this information) four times. Why has the PAC not answered?”

He added that vessel provider Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) Sdn Bhd is a subsidiary of Boustead Holdings Bhd, which has the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) under the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) as its biggest shareholder.

“All profits are channelled to the LTAT, not just any crony but RMN’s cronies, with dividends and bonuses exceeding 12% when I was prime minister before dropping to 2% under the PH administration.”

His latest remarks come after PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh yesterday defended the integrity of the committee’s report on the LCS controversy, telling Najib off. 

Wong said it was not produced by DAP members alone, but a committee comprising politicians from the government as well.

The PAC chairman also slammed Najib for attempting to absolve himself from any responsibility in the scandal as he was the prime minister between 2009 and 2018, with the project being kicked off in 2011.

Najib had previously gone on the defensive by posting several Facebook updates on the matter after the PAC released its report on the LCS project to Parliament last Thursday.

Meanwhile, Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching today joined her DAP colleague Wong in criticising Najib, questioning his role in the LCS delay.

“Did PH decide to use the Gowind design by the French Naval Group against the wishes of the Malaysian navy in 2011? Did PH cause the navy to be at a disadvantage when BNS only agreed to 10 of the 17 equipment requested?

“Did PH cause the appointment of Contraves Advanced Devices Sdn Bhd dan Contraves Electrodynamics Sdn Bhd which (the) forensic report found out that equipment prices doubled and tripled?”

She also raised questions over the RM400 million used to pay off BNS debts, RM305 million to build a centre in Putrajaya and a RM700 million cost-overrun due to BNS mismanagement.

“There are 164 OEM companies that remain unpaid by BNS, and it turned out to be much more as the defence minister mentioned 400 unpaid companies in his statement a few days ago.

“Who benefited from the project fund? The problem all started in 2011 when Najib was prime minister. Najib must come clean,” she said in a statement.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who held the position of defence minister from April 2009 to May 2013, has distanced himself from the alleged LCS scandal, claiming that the project was awarded when he did not helm the ministry.

Among PAC’s findings in its report was that feedback from the RMN as the end user was completely ignored by the ministry and ship supplier BNS.

It detailed that originally, the Sigma design of the ship, which was the choice of RMN, was agreed to by the ministry. However, the decision to change to the Gowind design occurred on July 11, 2011 following BNS’ proposal on July 8 the same year.

Former deputy defence minister Liew Chin Tong said that Zahid presided over this change in design when the latter was defence minister.

PAC also recommended the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) take prosecutive action in the LCS affair, with the suggestion being made based on findings from several reports, namely its report, which included the testimony of former navy commander Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said last Saturday that its investigation into the LCS procurement controversy was in the final stages, with investigation papers delivered to the Attorney-General’s Chambers. – The Vibes, August 8, 2022