This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on April 10, 2019 - April 16, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: The Armed Forces Fund Board’s (LTAT) accurate 2018 financial report will be ready by July, said Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu.

Outside Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Mohamad told reporters that the LTAT will hold a press conference tomorrow to share some details on the alleged discrepancies of the earlier version of the report, causing a delay on the declaration of 2018 dividends to its contributors.

“We have not decided yet [on the next action],” said Mohamad. “The full report will be [ready] in June or July, and that is why we have to delay [the declaration of dividends].”

On Monday, Mohamad, at a ceramah in Seremban, said the board’s 2018 financial report was found to have been manipulated.

This followed news reports on March 30 quoting the minister as saying in Langkawi that LTAT dividends had not been declared because numerous accounts did not show the board’s real position under the previous administration.

“The announcement will also take [some] time because of the censure received after completing the audit.

“So, we firstly need to check. In addition, my ministry is among the ministries investigated by the Governance, Procurement and Finance Investigation Committee chaired by Tan Sri Ambrin Buang,” Mohamad was quoted as saying.