LCS project completion independent of RCI, says Khaled

Defence Minister Khaled Nordin stated that any investigation into the delays of the littoral combat ship (LCS) project should be handled by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and relevant authorities. Speaking at an event in Kota Tinggi, he clarified that the commission would not determine when or how swiftly the vessels would be completed.

The shipbuilder has been instructed to expedite work to avoid further delays, according to Nordin. He emphasized that the completion of LCS 1 is independent of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) and that if the RCI were to control the project, it would never be finished. Nordin addressed Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim, who requested an expedited probe following the Auditor-General’s Report 2/2026, which revealed the project is 7.55% behind schedule as of June 25.

Lunas, the company responsible for building Malaysia’s first LCS, revised the delivery date for Phase 1 to April 2027. This new date followed Lunas informing the ministry that it could not guarantee delivery by December of the same year. Nordin reiterated that any investigation should be left to MACC and relevant authorities, citing a previous court case against a former navy chief, who had been the managing director of Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd.

In terms of armament, the government is still in discussions with several shortlisted countries to supply surface-to-surface missiles for LCS 1. The procurement decision does not depend on allocations from the 2027 budget. Currently, the ship is equipped with surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine warfare capabilities and an electronic jamming system. Surface-to-surface missiles remain the next item on the installation list.