KUALA LUMPUR: The article quoting sources on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) probe into the littoral combat ships (LCS) project violates Standing Order 85, says Datuk Mas Ermieyatie Samsudin.
The PAC chairman said that it views the June 12 article seriously, adding that Standing Order 85 states that any evidence brought before a Select Committee "shall not be published by any member of that committee or by anyone else until the committee presents that statement to the House."
"I am deeply disappointed with the article as it could potentially disrupt the investigation, findings, and recommendations of the PAC regarding these proceedings," she said on Monday (June 12).
The PAC is currently conducting its proceedings on the construction progress of the second generation littoral combat ships (LCS) owned by the Navy.
The Defence Ministry has been told to submit the latest developments to PAC every three months, and the 15th-term PAC will also be tabling the LCS progress report to the Dewan Rakyat every three months.
The construction of the LCS has been mired in controversy when the PAC revealed that no units had been completed despite the government having paid RM6.083bil to Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS).
Mas Ermieyatie also noted that she had written a letter to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari bin Abdul, to inform him about the violation of the Parliamentary standing order as well as to seek his guidance on this matter.
"At the same time, I urge all parties, especially the media, to respect the investigation of the PAC proceedings and obtain official statements directly from the PAC," she said.
"As I mentioned in the PAC press conference on June 8, the PAC will hold weekly media briefings every Thursday to provide updates on the progress of PAC proceedings," added Mas Ermieyatie.
