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KUALA LUMPUR – The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will meet to discuss the need to investigate the building of the three offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) was supposed to receive in 2020.
PAC member and Papar MP Ahmad Hassan said the committee is collecting information on the matter to help determine the need for an official investigation.
He was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia that he is concerned that the investigation may be halted midway if Parliament is dissolved to make way for a general election.
“If other parties are appointed as PAC members after the election, I hope they will continue the investigation if we decide to start one now.”
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the PAC has the power to summon individuals to aid its investigations.
“It is up to the PAC if they need to call in (people from) relevant government agencies or bodies for an explanation on certain matters.”
On Tuesday, Parit Buntar MP Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa urged the PAC to probe into the late delivery of three OPVs, alleging that there were signs of financial mismanagement in the RM738.9 million project.
Previously, he questioned the government’s decision to award the contract via direct negotiation to Tabung Haji Heavy Engineering Bhd, which supposedly does not have experience in building ships.
Subsequently, MMEA Director-General Zubil Mat Som said the OPVs were under construction by local company THHE Destini Sdn Bhd.
He reportedly attributed the delays to the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that OPV1 is scheduled to be launched on October 10 this year and handed to MMEA early next year. – The Vibes, September 17, 2022
