PAC to visit Lumut naval base for LCS proceedings

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will soon commence its proceedings on the construction progress of the second generation littoral combat ships (LCS) owned by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

PAC chairman Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the committee would visit the location of the LCS construction at the RMN naval base in Lumut, Perak, on Saturday. 

"In taking the recommendation from the PAC of the 14th Parliament which wants the defence ministry to submit the latest developments to PAC every three months, the 15th term PAC will also table an LCS progress report every three months to Dewan Rakyat. 

"For this report, it will touch on the construction progress made from October 2022 to May 2023," she said in a media conference at the Parliament lobby yesterday.
 
The construction of the LCS became mired in controversy when PAC revealed that no units were completed despite the government having paid RM6.083 billion to Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd.
 
In another development, Mas Ermieyati said PAC would be calling the secretaries-general of several ministries to attend proceedings related to issues raised on their respective ministries following a joint briefing with the National Audit Department. 

She said the agriculture and food security ministry secretary-general would be called on June 14 to explain the weaknesses in fund receipts in the form of finance and assets as well as the padi price subsidy scheme.

The secretaries-general of the health and science, technology and innovation ministries will be called on June 15 to explain the procurement and management of the Covid-19 outbreak, including the issue of 1.1 million doses of expired vaccine, 93 units of ventilators which could not be used, and excess stock of boots and protective suits, she said.

PAC will also summon the secretary-general of the treasury and the rural and regional development ministry as well as the CEO of Felcra Bhd on June 27 as Felcra's audited financial statements for 2019, 2020 and 2021 have not yet been finalised.

"PAC will also get a briefing on the JanaWibawa Programme from the finance ministry," she said.

Mas Ermieyati said the committee hoped that its proceedings would be open to the public from next year in line with the government's institutional reform agenda.

"I believe the administration of Parliament has prepared and has the ability in terms of human resources and information technology equipment to carry out open proceedings," she said.