PUTRAJAYA: The government will provide an additional loan of RM152.6 million for the construction of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) offshore patrol vessels (OPV).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government was "forced" to provide the loan to ensure the construction of the OPV would be completed.
"Based on our observation, the project can be completed, with at least one OPV done by this year," he said after chairing the weekly cabinet meeting here today.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said he had directed the authorities to continue probing alleged abuses of power, whether in the Home Ministry or Defence Ministry.
"First, we must save it (OPV project) and complete it. Secondly, we cannot let those who have personally gained from the project to get off scot-free without an investigation."
The contract for the construction of three OPV for the MMEA was awarded to Malaysian company THHE Destiny in 2017. It was reported that its principal company, TH Heavy Engineering Bhd, which was classified as PN17, had accumulated RM629.8 million in losses and RM165 million in debt, raising questions over its ability to complete the construction of the OPV.
The OPV were meant to be capable of sea operations for up to 21 days without needing to return to base to resupply.
The OPV, measuring 83m-long and 13.7m-wide, can conduct long-range surveillance up to the perimeter of the Exclusive Economic Zone, well beyond the range of small patrol vessels.
MMEA previously said the Covid-19 pandemic caused the delay in the handover of the vessels, which were supposed to have been completed last year.
