Walaupun tertangguh, LCS ‘lebih baik daripada tiada langsung’, kata pakar

Analysts contend that the establishment of a procurement office, involving various branches of service and ministries to monitor the acquisition of defense assets, can ensure decisions are not made by a single individual. Despite the controversy surrounding the Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LCS) project, it will still provide essential and relevant assets to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RLDM), even with the repeated delays in delivering the ships, says defense analyst Lam Choong Wah and Salawati Mat Basir.

Although some argue that the ships may be outdated by the time they are delivered, the analysts maintain that the LCS still has the potential to significantly enhance the capabilities of the RLDM. Lam Choong Wah, from the University of Malaya, acknowledges that the management, tracking, and weaponry platform systems of the LCS may be outdated when it goes into operation.

However, he emphasizes that despite its age, the LCS will still greatly improve the naval force's capabilities, making it "better than doing nothing at all." Salawati Mat Basir, a maritime affairs expert from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, stresses that the LCS project is still highly needed by the RLDM. "Yes, it is somewhat outdated in certain aspects, but we have no choice," he says.

The massive RM9 billion defense procurement project, which has ballooned to RM11.22 billion due to delays and cost increases, has been labeled as the largest defense acquisition in Malaysia's history. The National Audit Office (LAPO) report, released on October 5, stated that the first LCS ship (LCS 1) may only become fully operational by December 2035.

However, Defense Minister Khaled Nordin disputes this timeline. LAPO's findings also revealed that the entire LCS project, for the five ships, has been 7.55% behind schedule as of June 25, with delays ranging from 30 to 108 days. Lam Choong Wah supports the demand for the establishment of a royal advisory inquiry (RCI) to investigate the troubled project, citing the presence of sensitive documents that cannot be accessed even by the National Accountability and Anti-Corruption Agency (PAC).

He adds that the RCI can propose updates to standards and identify responsible parties. To ensure progress in the future, the defense procurement in Malaysia needs to be carried out with meticulousness and greater oversight, two elements that have been largely neglected for decades, Lam Choong Wah states. He notes that the issues arising in the LCS project are not exceptional, but rather a common practice.

While some argue that defense procurement should be kept confidential due to its sensitive nature, Lam asserts that other countries have prioritized modernization to enhance efficiency and accountability. He states that the first step towards efficiency is to list the main defense acquisitions in the annual federal budget, while all acquisitions worth more than RM100 million should automatically be placed under parliamentary oversight.

"Ongoing oversight by the National Anti-Corruption Agency, the National Audit Office, and the parliamentary select committee on safety must be mandatory for all defense acquisitions worth more than RM100 million," he adds. Salawati emphasizes that the recurring problems in defense asset acquisition are related to the ongoing practice of "security consultation," which hinders thorough investigations by the public and Parliament.

He urges the establishment of a procurement office involving various branches of service and ministries to oversee defense asset acquisitions. He believes that this mechanism can ensure decisions are not solely in the hands of one person. International open tenders for defense procurement should also be conducted to prevent any party from taking control of a contract.