Proposal to continue LCS project will be presented in the near future

20 Feb 2023 01:49pm

Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan

KUALA LUMPUR - The Defence Ministry is currently in its final phase of the proposal to continue the littoral combat ship (LCS) project through the preparation of the cabinet memorandum.

The memorandum is expected to be tabled soon.

Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said this is among the specific steps taken to ensure the project can resume and thus further strengthen the country's defence system.

"The Defence Ministry has given its full attention and efforts so that the LCS project can continue

"We have presented a paper in the direction of the LCS's procurement to the cabinet a total of four times, namely on Nov 20, 2020, May 5, 2021, March 4, 2022 and April 20, 2022," he told the Dewan Rakyat here today

He said this in response to Nordin Ahmad Ismail's (PN-Lumut) question about the actions taken to resolve the LCS project issue.

In addition, he said his ministry together with the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), especially the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM); The Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) specifically the Boustead side; had reviewed the procurement planning for LCS together with the Finance Ministry, Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department (EPU) and The Attorney-General Department (AGC) to find the best solution to continue this project.

He also explained that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had suggested for seven actions to be taken against parties involved in the LCS scandal.

There were six suggestions the ministry would be able to implement while the remaining one was for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to take action.

"For clarification, the Defence Ministry has completed four of the recommendations while the remaining two are in progress," he said.