Explain conflicting LCS statements between you and defence forces chief, Rafizi tells Hisham
PKR's number 2 man Rafizi Ramli
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PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said it would be absurd to continue with an existing contract with ten-year-old specifications at a hefty cost.
"The ships should have been delivered within one or two years. It was designed and built using a decade-old technology," he said in a statement.
The former Pandan MP said conflicting answers on the progress of the LCS project and the costs incurred by the public will confuse people as Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein gave a different answer than Defence Forces Chief Tan Sri Affendi Buang on the matter.
"Media reports quote Hishammuddin stating the first LCS ship will be operational in 'a year or two' from now (as the answer was in the August 8, senate). This means that the delivery of the first LCS ship is expected in 2023 or 2024.
"This statement contradicts with Affendi in a September 13, interview that the first shipment delivery will be in January 2026, the second shipment in September 2026, the third shipment in May 2027, the fourth shipment in January 2028 and the last shipment in September 2028," he said.
He stressed that the conflicting statements between the defence minister and the Defence Forces chief raise questions.
Rafizi asked Hishammuddin to explain to the people the exact number of LCS ships built under the contract with BNS to be completed and handed over to the Malaysian Navy (TLDM).
"In addition, explain how much the actual total cost will be spent by the government to complete the number of LCS ships and also tell the actual delivery schedule of these ships to the RMN.
Rafizi stressed that the government should build defense capabilities comparable to regional countries such as Indonesia.
He said the review showed the Indonesian National Army (TNI) had a long-term plan to modernise its naval fleet.
"This long-term plan under a programme called Green Water Navy puts a fleet strength of 274 ships (consisting of 110 combat ships, 66 patrol ships and 98 relief vessels) by 2024.
"To date, TNI has 12 coastal combat ships under the Clurit class and the Sampari class (although the specifications are different, these classes are seen as suitable coastal combat ships for Indonesian waters)," he said.
LCS project scandal came to light after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in its report on August 4 revealed that the government had paid RM6.083 billion to BNS for the five LCS vessels project which was carried out in direct consultation, but no ships have been received so far.
