VETERAN lawmaker Lim Kit Siang has hit out at former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for the country losing out to Egypt which has two Gowind littoral combat ships (LCS) in operation.
This is despite the fact that Egypt was later than Malaysia in its decision to purchase the LCS, said the Iskandar Puteri MP.
“Malaysia’s decision to buy the six Gowind LCS was made as far back as 2011 although the contract was delayed and signed only in 2014. [In contrast] Egypt which signed a one-billion-euro contract to buy four Gowind LCS in 2014, currently has two LCS in operation,” he pointed out.
“Can Najib explain why the first Egyptian Gowind LCS took 29 months to be constructed, while the first Malaysian Gowind LCS needs some 10 years to be completed?”
Lim noted that all six Gowind LCS have been given names – Maharaja Lela for the first LCS, Syarif Masahor for the second, Raja Mahada for the third, Mat Salleh for the fourth, Tok Janggut for the fifth and Mat Kilau for the sixth – but yet, none of the LCS has been completed and no work has commenced on the sixth vessel.
“Najib’s reply yesterday to DAP’s publicity secretary and Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching is the best proof that he was the ‘hidden hand’ behind the RM9 bil LCS scandal,” he remarked.
On Wednesday (Aug 10) Najib said he had favoured Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) to build LCS for the navy because BNS belongs to the Armed Forces Pension Fund (LTAT).
Najib’s response came following a to-and-fro with Teo who had earlier on urged him to explain why he, in his capacity as then finance minister, had resorted to giving favourable treatment to the main contractors (BNS) for the LCS project.
Lim also pointed out that Najib was not only the prime minister and the finance minister at the relevant time of the procurement of the six LCS but he was defence minister twice, the first time from 1991–1995 and the second time from 2000–2008.
“I previously asked Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi why he – as defence minister from 2009–2013 – had overturned the decision as recommended by the Royal Malaysian Navy to contract six Dutch-made Sigma LCS and chose the Scorpene manufacturer’s six French-made Gowind LCS on July 11, 2011 without consulting the navy who is the end-user,” he said.
“Now, the cat is out of the bag and everything is clear – Zahid had acted on the instruction of Najib as prime minister and finance minister in utter disregard for the views and objections of the end-user, the RMN.”
Lim further expressed disappointment that the RMN’s view as an end user was ignored by Zahid and BNS in the implementation of the LCS project.
Lim noted that former RMN chief Tan Sri Dr Abdul Aziz Jaafar, had previously raised many concerns about the entire process from the appointment of the contractor to the design, and even the manner in which taxpayer’s money was used in this procurement.
He also said that Abdul Aziz had even written 10 letters to various people within the administration about his concerns but none of them was ever taken seriously.
On the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday (Aug 10) that the Cabinet has proposed that the report of a forensic audit on the government’s procurement of the six LCS, Lim said he welcomes the move, but stressed that this is “not enough”.
“The Cabinet must go one step further – to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) not only to bring the wrongdoers to book but to find the best solution to the RM9 bil LCS scandal to protect the security and sovereignty of the nation.” – Aug 11, 2022
Main photo credit: Naval Post
