Cabinet decision on LCS must be followed through

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob must ensure that Cabinet decisions are followed to the letters. At the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 9 August, it was decided that the report by Tan Sri Ambrin Buang-led Jawatankuasa Siasatan Tadbir Urus, Perolehan dan Kewangan Kerajaan (JKSTUPKK) and the forensic audit report on LCS by Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) to be declassified.

If the reports are not declassified by the Ministry of Defence by Tuesday 16 August, the Prime Minister should sack Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for insubordination.

These two reports and other relevant documents should be declassified. For instance, former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has confirmed that money from the LCS project was illegally siphoned to pay off debts incurred by BNS for the construction of the New Generation Patrol Vessels (NGPV).

Najib’s revelation means that the discussion of LCS would not be complete if facts from the NGPV project are not fully known to the public. I therefore call on the Cabinet to also declassify JKSTUPKK’s report on NGPV. (Laporan Siasatan Perolehan Enam Buah Patrol Vessel, Integrated Logistics Support Dan Commercial Package Programme Oleh Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia, Kementerian Pertahanan Malaysia)

We must not allow the culprits to hide behind the veil of official secret and national security to commit corruption of such a mammoth scale. Corruption in the procurement of defence assets is itself a threat to national security. Poorly-built defence equipment caused by corruption erodes morale of our soldiers, adversely impacts combat capabilities of our forces and compromises the safety of our men.

(This morning, I attended a “Temu Mesra” coffee shop dialogue organised by DAP Johor Jaya with Johor State Assemblypersons Sdr Andrew Chen, Sdri Liow Cai Tung, Sdr Wong Bor Yang and Sdri Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz. Members of the press asked me several questions which are of national importance.)