PETALING JAYA: The Public Accounts Committee is set to discuss the late delivery of three offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in its meeting today, says PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh.
“As far as the OPV is concerned, we will discuss it tomorrow (today),” he told The Star, adding that the parliamentary committee was slated to meet for housekeeping of its reports today.
The contract for the supply of the three vessels was awarded in 2017 to the 51:49 joint venture between Destini Bhd and TH Heavy Engineering Bhd (THHE), THHE Destini Sdn Bhd (TDSB).
However, THHE had acquired Destini’s stake in the shipbuilding joint venture in 2021 for RM121,131.
The contract value for the project was RM738.9mil.
The vessels were initially scheduled for delivery on a staggered basis in 2020. However, it was later granted a 18-month extension by the government, which was due this year.
MMEA director-general Maritime Admiral Datuk Zubil Mat Som said on Sept 13 that the three ships were expected to be delivered to the agency by early next year.
“The Covid-19 pandemic also contributed to the project delay,” he said.
He said the OPV 1 was supposed to be launched on Sept 13 but it could not be done as the ship could not be transported to the launch location.
“The company will change from the launch cradle method to an air balloon launch, which is expected to take place on Oct 10,” he said in a statement then.
He said the OPV 1 was expected to be delivered to the MMEA early next year if everything went smoothly and the launch could be done on Oct 10.
“OPV 2 and OPV 3 are expected to be delivered in stages,” he said.
Mohd Zubil said the agency hoped that all three ships would be completed and delivered soon as it had been over two years since the original delivery date.