PAC committee member Ahmad Hassan said the PAC is still collecting information on the OPV project at the moment, Utusan Malaysia reported.

“For now, PAC has not begun any official investigation into this project’s delay. We will discuss soon and consider if there is a need to probe the matter,” he was quoted as saying.

The Papar MP also expressed concern that the investigation may be halted midway if Parliament is dissolved to make way for a general election.

“If other parties are appointed as PAC members after the election, I hope they will continue the investigation if we decide to start one now,” he said.

He was asked to comment on whether the PAC was opening a probe into the project, following concerns that it too was facing similar issues as that of the littoral combat ship (LCS) project.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said it was up to the PAC if they wanted to expedite its proceedings on the OPV project.

Previously, Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa called for the PAC to investigate the late delivery of the OPVs, claiming there were signs of financial mismanagement in the RM738.9 million project.

Mujahid added that the investigation must be expedited to ensure the safety of the country’s waters.

He also questioned the government for awarding the contract via direct negotiation to Tabung Haji Heavy Engineering (THHE) Bhd, which had no prior experience in building ships.

Earlier, MMEA director-general Zubil Mat Som said the OPVs were still under construction by a local company, THHE Destini Sdn Bhd, in Pulau Indah, Selangor.

He said the Covid-19 pandemic had contributed to the delay in the delivery of the vessels to MMEA.

Zubil added that the launch of OPV 1, which had been scheduled for this month, could not be carried out because it could not be brought to the location yet.

The launch of OPV 1 has since been rescheduled to Oct 10 and the vessel would be handed over to MMEA early next year, Zubil said. OPV 2 and OPV 3 would be handed over in stages, he added.