PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh said MMEA and the home ministry must provide an explanation to Parliament for the delay.

“The PAC will summon the home ministry, MMEA, the finance ministry and the company which was awarded the construction contract to provide an explanation,” he said in a statement.

Wong said a date and time for the proceedings will be announced soon, adding that the PAC members unanimously agreed on initiating the probe.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said it was up to the PAC if it 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 that there were signs of financial mismanagement in the RM738.9 million project.

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

MMEA director-general Zubil Mat Som said the OPVs were still being constructed by 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.

The launch of OPV 1 has since been rescheduled to Oct 10 and it would be handed over to MMEA early next year, Zubil said.

OPV 2 and OPV 3 would be handed over in stages, he added.