We want answers, Anwar tells Najib, Zahid and Hisham over LCS scandal

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report said Aziz had testified that he wrote two letters to Najib, five letters to the defence minister, 10 to the ministry’s secretary-general, and one each to the secretary-general of the Treasury, and chief secretary to the government.

(FMT) – Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has demanded former prime minister Najib Razak and former defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi explain their involvement in the littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal.

The PKR president also urged current defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein to come clean.

Anwar said that the country could not afford to simply have the case closed without proper answers.

“Those who are responsible (must explain) why major procurements, including this project that cost RM9 billion, were done without a tender?

“And who has to answer this (question)? Najib, the former prime minister, Zahid the former defence minister and Hishammuddin.

The Port Dickson MP urged the defence ministry and top leaders of the armed forces to be involved in the quality control of military assets.

He also noted concerns raised by former navy chief Abdul Aziz Jaafar over the LCS procurement.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report said Aziz had testified that he wrote two letters to Najib, five letters to the defence minister, 10 to the ministry’s secretary-general, and one each to the secretary-general of the Treasury, and chief secretary to the government.

He was cited in the report as saying that “something is gravely wrong” with the decision made by Mindef (ministry of defence) and Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) to ignore the navy’s views on combat ships.

Last Thursday, PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh said the defence ministry and project contractor, BNS had ignored the navy’s views on the LCS project.

Wong said not a single ship had been completed although Putrajaya had spent RM6 billion on the project, which was given to BNS via direct negotiations.

Two days ago, Zahid said he should not be blamed for the problems plaguing the project as the contract was awarded in 2014, a year after his term as defence minister ended.

Hishammuddin, meanwhile, vowed that those responsible would “not go unpunished”. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is currently probing the matter.

Najib has denied any involvement in the awarding and management of the LCS project.