Two separate audit exercises on Putrajaya's procurement of six littoral combat ships (LCS) for the Royal Malaysian Navy revealed that there may have been a deal between the main contractor and controversial shipbuilder DCNS before the government issued its contract.

This was based on a quotation issued by DCNS to Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) dated Dec 23, 2010, one year before the government awarded the LCS contract to BNS.

DCNS, now known as the Naval Group, is a...