KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 11): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has completed its investigation papers on individuals linked to the littoral combat ship (LCS) project.

In a statement on Thursday (Aug 11), the commission said the investigation papers have been handed to the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC), and the graft buster has made recommendations on what charges to file against these individuals.

The commission will await further instructions after the AGC studies the papers.

This comes after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob urged the MACC to speed up its investigation into the procurement of the combat ships for RM9 billion.

"If there is strong evidence, the attorney general should prosecute and those who are responsible will be brought to justice.

"I called Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun and MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki after the Cabinet meeting to immediately act in accordance with the decision of the meeting," Ismail Sabri said in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 10).

In 2011, Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) received a letter of award from the Ministry of Defence to deliver six LCS as part of its fleet renewal plan. BNS, which is an indirect subsidiary of Boustead Holdings Bhd, is controlled by the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT).

On Aug 4, the Public Accounts Committee announced the findings of its investigation into the matter. Among other things, the committee found that even though the Royal Malaysian Navy should have received five ships by this month, no vessels had been delivered yet despite the government having spent RM6 billion on the project.

According to LTAT chief executive officer, Datuk Ahmad Nazim Abd Rahman, RM6.1 billion out of the RM9 billion paid by the government to build six LCS was used to buy equipment on a "bulk order" basis.

In a Facebook posting on Tuesday (Aug 9), Nazim said the "bulk order" ensured cost savings in constructing the ships, which had to be built concurrently.

The LTAT chief said a huge portion of the RM9 billion contract went to the basic design and detailed design carried out by Naval Group, a major player in the French naval sector.