AN MP has criticised MCA and MIC for their silence over the littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal, and suggested that ministers and deputy ministers from both parties resign should they continue to refrain from taking a stand on the matter.
According to Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, even parties like PAS and Bersatu had joined calls in urging Putrajaya to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the procurement of the six LCS for the Royal Malaysian Navy.
Last Thursday (Aug 4) the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed that the LCS project contract was awarded to Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) via direct negotiation with the Government paying RM6.083 bil although not one LCS has been delivered.
“There is obviously something fishy going on, and the parties involved in this matter seem to be unwilling to cooperate by providing an appropriate response,” Lim said.
“The people’s money worth RM6.083 bil were lost due to certain people’s greed, and warships that were supposed to be used for national security ‘vanished’ just like that.
“Even political parties in this backdoor government like PAS and Bersatu had called for the relevant parties to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter to make sure that the culprits are brought to justice.”
However, Lim noted that there are certain component parties in the Government bloc who have yet to take a stand and were keeping mum on this issue.
“These parties – especially MCA and MIC – must be vocal in rooting out and fighting corruption which is clearly what the LCS is about,” he remarked.
“Should they continue to remain silent on this matter, the ministers and deputy ministers from both these parties should immediately resign from their positions.
“What is the use of being ministers and deputy ministers if they are not willing to speak out on issues concerning national interest?
“They were previously silent when it comes to the 1MDB issue and now they are continuing to stay quiet about the LCS scandal which affects the country’s authority and the people’s safety.”
Lim’s comments came in light of the parliamentary PAC’s findings which concluded that BNS was building six ships based on a design that was not requested by the navy.
It was also concluded that then defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had greenlit BNS’ suggestion to switch the LCS’ design from Sigma to Gowind despite the navy’s repeated protest.
Apart from delays, the PAC revealed that BNS still owed more than 600 suppliers money for the LCS project.
BNS was supposed to have delivered five LCS by Aug 2022. None has been delivered. The first delivery was scheduled for April 2019, but the PAC noted that the ship was only 44% complete. – Aug 10, 2022
