GEORGE TOWN – Authorities can already charge those responsible for the littoral combat ships (LCS) scandal without the need for further investigations, as the evidence is compelling, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
The PKR president said that the authorities such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) need not conduct more investigations and should immediately charge those involved.
“There is seismic corruption in this country, and we need to save Malaysia.”
“The scandalous nature of governance in Barisan Nasional (BN), Perikatan Nasional (PN) and now the Keluarga Malaysia government has continued unabated for decades at the expense of the country and her citizenry,” said Anwar this evening after meeting the PKR leadership from Perlis, Kedah and Penang at the state PKR headquarters in Bayan Baru here.
“This must stop.”
Anwar was asked about the MACC statement earlier this evening that it has submitted investigation papers to the Attorney-General’s Chambers and was awaiting instructions for further legal action.
Anwar said there was no need to wait any longer.
“There is always, we will investigate this and that but, in the end,...we can act against them now.”
He added that the people must join him in fighting corruption, adding that there had been no end to graft from the Scorpene submarines to the LCS now.
Anwar also welcomed a suggestion from Bersatu that a Royal Commission of Inquiry t be formed to investigate the LCS scandal.
The Port Dickson MP added that those who preached about Malay unity or about championing the Malay agenda were the same “elite and rich Malays” involved in alleged corrupt dealings.
More than RM6 billion has been spent on the LCS project to build six ships but none have been delivered to date since the project began in 2013.
On August 4, PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh said the recommendation for the prosecution was based on findings in several reports.
Besides the PAC one, other reports produced were the Special Committee on Governance Investigation, Government Procurement and Finance (JKSTUPKK) report, and a forensic audit report.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday said the cabinet had agreed to declassify the JKSTUPKK report.
He also said investigations by MACC had already commenced earlier and urged the anti-graft body to speed up its probe.
The PAC completed its report on the LCS scandal after nine proceedings on the matter held between November 18, 2020, and March 8 this year.
Besides cost overruns, it was also found that the Royal Malaysian Navy, as the end user, had been ignored when it gave feedback on the project to contractor Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd – The Vibes, August 11, 2022
.jpeg)
