LCS1 completion must not depend on RCI, says Khaled

KOTA TINGGI: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has stated that the Royal Malaysian Navy's inaugural Littoral Combat Ship (LCS1) must be completed, irrespective of the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to scrutinise project delays. Khaled emphasised that the shipbuilder must prevent any further delays while the Defence Ministry persists in equipping the vessel with mandatory weapon systems.

The minister reiterated that negotiations were underway with several shortlisted countries to secure a supplier of surface-to-surface missiles for LCS1, as a viable alternative to Norway's Naval Strike Missile (NSM). He stressed that the objective is to guarantee the ship's complete equipping with weapon systems without significant delays.

Currently, LCS1 is already outfitted with surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine warfare systems, and target detection capabilities. However, the surface-to-surface missile equipment remains pending, which would enable the ship to perform maritime defence duties more effectively, Khaled explained during a commentary on proposals by several MPs from the government and opposition to set up an RCI to investigate the delay in the LCS project's progress.

Regarding efforts to discover an alternative missile supplier, Khaled disclosed that Ministry representatives had been dispatched to various countries potentially able to supply the weapon system. He expressed hope that, "God willing, we will make sure that our first ship, LCS1, does not face too long a wait to be fully equipped." He underscored the importance of surface-to-surface missile capability for navy ships to target maritime objectives from a distance in the event of conflict.

Responding to a statement by Pasir Gudang MP Hasan Abdul Karim who advocated for expediting the investigation into the LCS issue without relying on an RCI's establishment, Khaled differentiated the investigation process from ensuring the ship's completion. He asserted that the LCS project must also consider legal actions taken against certain individuals over the matter.

Simultaneously, Khaled stressed that the ongoing efforts to equip LCS1 with weapon systems must persist to ensure the ship can operate with requisite capability.