The delay would prevent the opposition from turning the issue into a political weapon as Pakatan Harapan did with the 1MDB scandal in 2018, in which they toppled the Barisan Nasional government.
“The LCS issue just surfaced and we don’t know what is going to happen in the next two months. But it could see the elections delayed,” he said in an interview to commemorate his first year in power.
Ismail took office on Aug 21 last year with support from MPs of Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional, GRS and GPS.
The next general election must be held by September next year, but some Umno leaders have called for early elections following Barisan Nasional’s victories at state elections in Johor and Melaka.
Ismail also said several people will be hauled to court over the issue, after a former navy chief had been indicted.
Last week, Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor, a former Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd managing director, was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM21.08 million. He pleaded not guilty.
Ismail said that even though legal action had been initiated, he expects the opposition to harp on the issue.
“It’s difficult to extinguish this issue as it would be raised by the opposition who will argue that it is about integrity and not about who was arrested.”
Umno leaders such as party leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was defence minister at the time, former prime minister Najib Razak, and current defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein have faced opposition criticism.
Ismail said his government is pressing for a complete explanation to be given to the public to avoid a repeat of the 2018 general election.
“The shortfall of the previous (BN) government was its failure to explain the 1MDB issue and that led to speculation and people drawing their own conclusions without really knowing what actually took place.”
“And because we failed to explain properly, 1MDB became a huge issue.”
He added that even some in his Cabinet and allies who are not part of his administration don’t really know the real issue. “And when we don’t know how to relay the story, we can’t explain it to the people as we won’t know how to.”