LCS project discontinued when PH won - Tok Mat

KUALA LUMPUR – The construction of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project was discontinued when Pakatan Harapan (PH) government took over in 2018, Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan says.

Mohamad, more commonly known as Tok Mat, admitted the project was delayed but it was because several projects were stopped and uncompleted during the shift of government in the last general election in 2018.

He said the opposition saw every projects by BN as personal use of the party which might have led to the discontinuation.

“There were plans to resume construction but during that time the PH government fell apart and after that we were hit by Covid-19 pandemic so it is hard for the project to be completed within the timeframe.

“A lot of money had been invested for the ships because the money is needed for the equipments and other requirements for the LCS” he said during his speech at BN convention held at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.

Mohamad also rebutted rumours made as if the LCS were owned by BN and emphasised that the schedule of the attacks seemed planned with the upcoming GE15.

“After this, a lot of things (rumours or attacks) will come after BN following the LCS issue,” he said.

Mohamad said BN must be steadfast to strive for the people’s confidence for the upcoming general election and not be swayed by ‘fake truths’ against the party especially ones made by 'King of Slander'.

He said the 'King of Slander' who had just assumed new position in PKR would do anything to destroy BN and Umno.

“A lot of accusations were made against BN and we must do our part to explain the truth to the people.

“The people should not be too fazed on the defamation made against BN because this is seen as an opportunity to believe the ‘fake truth’ against BN,” he said.

The LCS project stole the spotlight when Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed that about RM6 billion had been spent, yet not a single ship had been completed or delivered when five ships should be ready by August 2022.

Yesterday, Boustead Naval Shipyard who were awarded the LCS project took 48 media practitioners to the construction site in Lumut to prove that works were underway to complete the ships.

The first ship had shown development of up to 60 per cent, the second ship (LCS 2) reached 48 per cent, LCS 3 (43 per cent), LCS 4 (36 per cent) and LCS 5 (22 per cent).