TWO truths which are capable of shedding crystal clear light into the ‘masterminds’ of the RM9 bil littoral combatant ship (LCS) fiasco have been unearthed from the declassified 106-page report of a probe on the six yet-to-be-delivered vessels.

First and foremost – as Malaysiakini aptly worded it – the revelation has shredded (torn apart) UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s denial of involvement in its procurement.

Recall that on Aug 6, Zahid who was then Malaysia’s Defence Minister had dismissed allegations linking him to the mismanagement/misappropriation of funds linked to the LCS project on grounds that the project was awarded after his tenure as defence minister in 2013.

This is despite probe by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Special Investigation Committee on Public Governance, Procurement and Finance (JKSTUPKK) clearly showed that Zahid was involved in the early stages of the project.

The letter of award was issued in 2011 although the contract was indeed only signed in 2014.

The first undesirable revelation is that the Bagan MP has had evidently on July 8, 2010 consented to the intent letter undersigned by the then Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) managing director Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor who had proposed to develop six LCS vessels for the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM).

On Tuesday (Aug 16), Ahmad Ramli was charged before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussain with three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) in connection with LCS project. He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

Back to Zahid, either he has forgotten that he had actually inked two powerful words for the attention of the Defence Ministry’s procurement division secretary – “Sila laksanakan” (Please implement/proceed”) – on the hardcopy intent letter or as some critics put it, he went for the broke as he did not expect the probe report to be eventually de-classified.

The second undesirable revelation is that Zahid has given the green light to change the design of the LCS vessels from Sigma to Gowind in 2011 which was contrary to what TLDM had wanted.

He had initially agreed with TLDM’s decision to choose the Sigma-class design from the Netherlands after being briefed by the latter on May 26, 2011.

However, two months later, Zahid – on the recommendation of BNS – switched to the Gowind patrol ship design without consulting the navy.

To give him benefit of doubt, the probe which was made public and is now accessible on the PAC portal, also noted that Zahid might have been furnished with incorrect information on the project on one occasion. – Aug 18, 2022