GUA MUSANG: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has never stopped investigating the littoral combat ship (LCS) project, said its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

He said the investigation into the case is currently at the MACC level, which involves contacting relevant parties abroad to collect information.

“I deny the allegation of outside parties claiming that the investigation of the LCS case has been stopped, when in fact, the investigation into this case is still active and ongoing.

“Apart from that, the MACC is also making an application for mutual legal assistance through the Attorney General’s Chambers for some (documents and evidence) that we need,” he said after opening the new Gua Musang MACC branch office at Bangunan Persekutuan here yesterday.

Azam said the investigation into the case took a long time because the MACC had made several applications, including tracing the money.

He said there were a few individuals involved in the case who had been charged in court, Bernama reported.

“MACC will not intervene in administrative matters involving the government in the implementation of this project, such as funding allocation for LCS.

“MACC’s investigations are guided and focused on the abuse of power and malpractice that have occurred in the LCS project,” he said.

When asked to comment on the Scorpene submarine issue, Azam said the investigation into the case was also ongoing and had never been stopped.

“Currently, MACC is still in contact with related parties abroad to obtain information and evidence regarding some of the transactions carried out.

“There are positive signs from foreign parties who are providing the documents and evidence that we requested,” he said.

Azam added that he would announce the findings once the investigations were completed.

The purchase of the two French submarines was carried out in 2002, when former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was the defence minister.

Najib oversaw the purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines and one Agosta-class submarine from the French naval shipyard unit DCN, worth nearly €1bil.

The Scorpene submarines, named KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak, arrived in Malaysia in September 2009 and July 2010, respectively.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/26/littoral-combat-ship-probe-still-ongoing-says-azam-baki