HEADS must indeed roll in the littoral combat ships (LCS) procurement fiasco, especially among high-ranking current minister/s who had direct and indirect decision-making power in the whole process.
This is to ensure that such a scandal, which has not only involved the wastage of billions of ringgit of public funds, but more importantly jeopardises and compromises national security, is not swept under the carpet.
The prime minister’s deafening silence on the matter even after so many days after the release of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report speaks volumes of how the Government does not take this matter seriously or that it does not intend to remain accountable, especially since big leaders within his own party and Government are involved in this scandal.
The LCS project is an RM9 bil contract to procure six LCS ships for the Royal Malaysian Navy which was initiated in 2011 but with zero results up till today.
The first LCS was contracted to be delivered in April 2019, the second (February 2020), the third (December 2020), the fourth (October 2021), the fifth (August 2022) and the sixth (June 2023).
While not a single LCS had been completed and delivered, there was a ludicrous “launching” ceremony for the first ship in 2017 to mislead even the royals on the matter.
On top of that, the navy’s view as an end user was ignored by the Defence Ministry and Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) in the implementation of the LCS project. Multiple letters to the then prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, were also ignored.
That is why I urge the authorities to take this matter seriously by investigating all those involved, including former defence minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Najib, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein and other leaders that are involved in this fiasco.
DAP Socialist Youth Malaysia (DAPSY) will launch a nationwide police report against the individuals involved and we encourage fellow Malaysians to even do the same as this fiasco has not only caused massive wastage of public funds, but more importantly, jeopardised and compromised and safety and security of our country.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) Government, which is at the centre of this scandal and the very Government in power today, is asking the people to give them a big majority in the next election in the name of political stability and investors’ confidence.
What they are actually asking for is unfettered powers without the need for accountability – just like what has happened in this case. That is why we must not buy into this narrative on the need for a huge majority for political stability and investors’ confidence.
The truth is that investors want good governance, consistency and stability in policies, as opposed to a Government without accountability. – Aug 9, 2022
Dr Kelvin Yii is the Bandar Kuching MP and the DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) chief.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
