PR MPs ready to meet Zahid over RM9 bil purchase

Dec 30: Pakatan Rakyat members of parliament have agreed to meet Defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to hear his explanation  over the RM9 billion purchase of the six second generation patrol vessels or littoral combatant ships (LCS).

“Pakatan Rakyat MPs, including Nurul Izzah Anwar and Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad are more than willing to take up the offer from the Minister to seek his clarification,” said Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua (pic) in a statement today.
Pua had earlier said that the price to purchase the six LCS had increased by 50 percent from RM6 billion to RM9 billion, through an announcement on Bursa Malaysia by Boustead Holdings Bhd who was awarded the contract.

Zahid shot back and urged Pua to provide proof, denying Pua's claim that the price of the vessels had increased. However he admitted that there had been a 50 percent hike, saying this was due to the vessels being built locally.

In response to Zahid's offer to explain, Pua said Zahid should also explain the other acquisition of 257 armoured personnel vehicles (APVs) costing RM7.55 billion this year, a figure of which Zahid had claimed ignorance.

Pua further said Zahid must also give his assurance that the Defence ministry was transparent and would explain why it was reluctant to set up a Parliament Oversight Committee to review and monitor defence expenditure.

“If the Ministry is not even willing to subject himself to oversight by the Parliament, the country’s highest legislative body, then Zahid Hamidi has no right to talk about 'transparency',” he sniped.