KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been taken to task over its apparent delay in prosecuting more individuals purportedly involved in various defence scandals.
Former defence minister Mohamad Sabu and his then deputy Liew Chin Tong said the anti-graft body must explain to Parliament why there have been lengthy hold-ups in the investigation, as well as charging those implicated.
This is despite strong evidence of wrongdoing based on the multiple investigations and audits conducted, including in the case of the government’s procurement of the six littoral combat ships (LCS).
To date, only former navy chief Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor has been charged in court over controversies surrounding the embattled vessel project.
In a statement, the two Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders said since the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) released its report on the LCS scandal on August 4, subsequently followed by the declassification of two other reports, MACC should have had enough information and proof to prosecute more suspects.
“In fact, MACC had sent its representative to all PAC’s proceedings. The commission also received the reports by the Governance, Procurement and Finance Investigation Committee (JKSTUPKK) and the forensic audit relating to the LCS project,” they said today.
Separately, the duo noted the then PH government had in April 2019 declassified 16 other JKSTUPKK reports on land swap deals involving the Defence Ministry, of which 12 were found to be problematic, and that they were also forwarded to MACC for action.
They added that when the JKSTUPKK was first set up in May 2018, the ministry was informed by MACC that an investigation is also underway into the multibillion-ringgit Scorpene submarine scandal in the 2000s.
“We urge MACC to take immediate action and explain to Parliament the reasons for the delays in investigation, arrests and prosecution over the aforementioned cases.”
On top of this, they also urged the government to order a further forensic audit to be conducted by Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Bhd on the LCS project, with the previous probe limited only to transactions and deals happening up to 2014.
“And since there were issues of LCS funds purportedly being used to pay bad debts involving the new generation patrol vessel project by Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd, the related JKSTUPKK report should also be declassified.
“We also call on the cabinet to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe allegations of graft and embezzlement in the LCS procurement and to propose the way forward, as well as the enactment of new laws and governance mechanisms to prevent similar misconducts.” – The Vibes, August 24, 2022
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