KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Azam Baki today said more time is required for investigations into the RM9 billion littoral combat ships (LCS) financial scandal.
He told a news conference in Putrajaya that some of the witnesses are abroad and the MACC may summon them, news portal Free Malaysia Today reported.
“There are many aspects that we need to look into. I want everyone to understand that the matters pertaining to governance and criminality are different.
“We are looking into whether a criminal offence has been committed by any party, so my officers need more time to do that,” he was quoted as saying.
Azam was also asked if the MACC intended to call Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad to record his statement for his alleged involvement in the procurement project.
“No comment. We are still investigating. We need to check on that,” he was saying in reply.
Federal Opposition MPs have questioned the MACC’s delay in acting on irregularities highlighted in several declassified audit reports on the naval procurement project.
Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang has been among those at the forefront asking the MACC to explain why it had not pressed charges against those found suspect despite being aware of the results of the audit investigations two years ago.
Former Boustead Heavy Industries Corp (BHIC) Bhd managing director Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor was charged last month with three counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM21.08 million, which Lim the veteran MP claimed was not directly linked to the LCS scandal.
The LCS procurement is said to be the biggest defence deal in the country, aimed to equip the navy with six vessels capable of engaging in close-shore battles.
BHIC subsidiary Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd was tasked with building six navy frigates in the LCS project, which has come under parliamentary scrutiny over costs and delays in construction.
