PUTRAJAYA: The government will pump in RM152.6mil to take over the stalled offshore patrol vessel (OPV) project by a former Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH) subsidiary, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"We have decided that the Finance Ministry will take over the OPV project previously under a former subsidiary of Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH).
"Additional allocation of RM152.6mil will be injected for the project which will be completed by this year," he said at a press conference after chairing the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (Jan 4).
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said that it was crucial to rescue the project as it pertains to the security and defence of the nation's maritime waters.
He urged the authorities to investigate those who had abused their powers and profited from the project to be held accountable.
The OPV project was handled by THHE Destini Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary company of LTH.
The company was supposed to have delivered three OPVs to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in stages beginning 2020 but failed to do so.
On a separate issue, Anwar said there were no plans to cut the pension of former Cabinet members.
He said such a suggestion has to be closely looked at as it requires amendments to the Federal Constitution.
“To abolish or remove the pension, it is impossible because this issue is something that has to do with the Federal Constitution and it needs to be looked into closely," he said.
