Abdul Latiff Ahmad has claimed that PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli is misleading people about the former’s supposed guilt in the littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal by referencing a draft audit report.
The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) claimed there is an “actual audit report”, which was signed off by an audit firm, that does not say Zainab Mohd Salleh is his wife.
In his statement today, Abdul Latiff pointed out that the report referenced by Rafizi contains a disclaimer by the auditors stating they relied on oral and documentary representation by people involved in the project, but were unable to ascertain the veracity of their claims.
“Rafizi used a forensic report by Alliance IFA Sdn Bhd although the document is merely an unsigned and unattested draft.
“Rafizi is not merely being dishonest, but is deliberately slandering me by hiding the fact that there is an actual forensic report signed by Alliance that clearly does not mention Zainab is my second wife,” he said.
The forensic audit report was commissioned by Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Bhd’s (BHIC) board and prepared by Alliance, covering the events from 2011 up to the end of the 2014 financial year.
It is one of two LCS audit reports ordered by the cabinet to be declassified.
It should be noted that the copy supplied by BHIC to the Public Accounts Committee - where the document is made public on its website - contains the disclaimer that Abdul Latiff cited.
This version of the report states that a certain Abdul Latiff Ahmad is the spouse of Zainab Mohd Salleh - the latter is implicated by the report for supposedly misappropriating funds for the project.
Rafizi repeatedly tried to tie this to the minister and his alleged second wife.
However, in his statement today, Abdul Latiff again denied having any wife or ex-wife named Zainab Mohd Salleh.
‘No role in LCS contract’
Abdul Latiff also pointed out that he was deputy defence minister from 2009 to 2013, whereas the LCS contract with Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd was signed on July 17, 2014.
“I did not play any role in that LCS contract.
“My family did not obtain any defence contract nor became a supplier for the Defence Ministry while I was the deputy defence minister.
“I hope Rafizi can be more honest in his politicking. His lies not only deceive the community but also shakes the people’s confidence in the government to the extent of affecting national security, where many explanations need to be made that expose secrets of national defence assets to public knowledge.
“If Rafizi is truly confident that Zainab Mohd Salleh is my second wife, then show the evidence. As a cabinet member, I am prepared to be investigated to prove the truth of what I have said,” said the Bersatu MP for Mersing today.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said he views the audit report and the allegations against Abdul Latiff seriously.
He said Bersatu will leave it to the authorities to determine whether there is any basis for those allegations.
“As I have said before, the cabinet should set up a royal commission of inquiry to investigate this scandal more thoroughly,” he said. - Mkini
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