Mohamad Hasan to look into LCS project issue

KUALA LUMPUR - Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said he will look into the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project issue when he officially settled into office.

"Let me settle into the (Defence Ministry) office before looking into the matter,” he said during a press conference at the Defence Ministry, here, on Monday.

Mohamad arrived at the ministry at 3pm today to clock into his office.

Also present were ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Muez Abd Aziz and Malaysian Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Jeneral Affendi Buang, among others.

Previously, it was reported that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the government had paid RM6.083 billion for five LCS ships to Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) for a direct negotiation project, but no ships have been received so far.

The report released on Aug 4 also listed nine conclusions on the causes of the disruption of the project for the construction of six LCS for the use of the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) worth RM9 billion.

On Oct 2, former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was reported to have said the mobilisation phase of the LCS project for six months beginning June showed positive progress and was running smoothly in line with the recommendations of several stakeholders.