Navy to get 5 LCS units, not 6
On Jan 5, defence minister Mohamad Hasan said the unity government will go ahead with the RM9 billion LCS project.
PETALING JAYA: The navy is set to receive five units of littoral combat ships (LCS) in the troubled RM9 billion project instead of six, says the new navy chief, Abdul Rahman Ayob.
He said this reduction was agreed upon after the government discussed proceeding with the controversial project, Bernama reported.
On Jan 5, defence minister Mohamad Hasan said the unity government will go ahead with the LCS project as part of strengthening the country and navy’s defences.
The LCS project, said to be the largest defence procurement in Malaysia’s history, came under much scrutiny last year after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed that not a single ship had been completed although Putrajaya had already paid out RM6.08 billion on the project.
The PAC said the navy should have received five of the ships by August last year.
The project had been awarded to Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) through direct negotiations.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was defence minister in 2011, was among top officials summoned by the PAC during its probe.
The others summoned included former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein, defence ministry secretary-general Muez Abd Aziz, former auditor-general Ambrin Buang, former navy chief Reza Sany, and the CEO and chief operating officer of BNS.
Last March, the Ismail Sabri Yaakob-led administration decided to proceed with the project, before the release of the PAC report in August.
Hishammuddin, who was defence minister then, had said the first LCS was expected to be completed this year.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which investigated the project, had recommended that several individuals be charged.
PETALING JAYA: The navy is set to receive five units of littoral combat ships (LCS) in the troubled RM9 billion project instead of six, says the new navy chief, Abdul Rahman Ayob.
He said this reduction was agreed upon after the government discussed proceeding with the controversial project, Bernama reported.
On Jan 5, defence minister Mohamad Hasan said the unity government will go ahead with the LCS project as part of strengthening the country and navy’s defences.
The LCS project, said to be the largest defence procurement in Malaysia’s history, came under much scrutiny last year after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed that not a single ship had been completed although Putrajaya had already paid out RM6.08 billion on the project.
The PAC said the navy should have received five of the ships by August last year.
The project had been awarded to Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) through direct negotiations.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was defence minister in 2011, was among top officials summoned by the PAC during its probe.
The others summoned included former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein, defence ministry secretary-general Muez Abd Aziz, former auditor-general Ambrin Buang, former navy chief Reza Sany, and the CEO and chief operating officer of BNS.
Last March, the Ismail Sabri Yaakob-led administration decided to proceed with the project, before the release of the PAC report in August.
Hishammuddin, who was defence minister then, had said the first LCS was expected to be completed this year.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which investigated the project, had recommended that several individuals be charged.
And what about the cost of these 5 LCS instead of the 6 planned?
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, what is the follow up action as the MACC has recommended action against several individuals.
What is the AG doing? Sitting on his butt?
So, that's it ?
ReplyDeleteMoney for Six ships for paid out from public funds, but the money for one ship basically "evaporated" and no one is accountable ?
This is SOOO STUPID.