PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) is always willing to cooperate fully with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in regards to the progress of the littoral combat ship (LCS) project.
Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari said that PAC had the authority to call any ministers or executives to be grilled over the multi-billion ringgit military project.
"We at Mindef are always ready to cooperate with PAC.
"So should PAC summon us, whether at the ministerial or officer level, we will provide cooperation," he told the press members after attending the launch for Cultivating Defence Research and Development Programme in School spearheaded by Science & Technology Research Institute For Defence (Stride).
When asked whether the Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had been called by PAC, Adly did not specify who was currently meeting with the check-and-balance committee.
Earlier today, it was reported that PAC would summon several senior Defence Ministry officials, including the current and former ministers, over the progress of the littoral combat ship (LCS) project.
The proceedings are scheduled today for PAC to find out about the progress made on the multibillion-ringgit project between June and August this year.
Among the key people to be summoned is the ministry's new secretary-general, Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, who was appointed on Sept 26, replacing Datuk Seri Muez Abd Aziz Ishak. Also to be called in are executives from shipbuilder Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS), as well as Royal Malaysian Navy officers.
PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, when contacted, said the committee did not rule out the possibility of summoning current and former ministers, including the finance minister.
The committee, she said, needed to hear explanations on matters such as the transfer of BNS shares to the special-purpose vehicle (SPV) under the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MoF Inc).