PETALING JAYA: The proposal to form a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) scandal has been presented to the Cabinet and it is now up to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob if it should be presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"As for now, the status remains the same. It was discussed in the Cabinet and the matter will be presented to the King as the RCI will involve his views and decision," said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein's office.
"As for now it is still TBC (to be continued) because it's up to the Prime Minister to present it to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"The Defence Minister has brought the matter to the Cabinet's attention and the Cabinet acknowledged it," said Hishammuddin's office.
The LCS scandal gained momentum earlier this month when the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in its report revealed that Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) was awarded an RM9bil 10-year-contract from 2013 to 2023 for the supply of six LCS.
The PAC report also said the Malaysian government had to date already paid RM6bil to the contractor but none of the six LCS vessels has been completed yet.
It was reported that RM1.4bil worth of government funds intended for the LCS project signed in was diverted for other purposes.
These were among the findings contained in the PAC's 250-page report that was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 4.
