{
  "id": 13686298,
  "title": "LCS project completion independent of RCI, says Khaled",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/lcs-project-completion-independent-of-rci-says-khaled",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-11T08:43:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/11/lcs-project-completion-independent-of-rci-says-khaled"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Defence Minister Khaled Nordin stated that any investigation into the delays of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project should be conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the relevant authorities, rather than forming the basis for an independent royal commission of inquiry. Nordin clarified that the completion timeline for the LCS vessels is not reliant on the recommendations of the Royal Commission (RCI). The LCI 1's completion status is independent of the RCI, and its failure to complete would not be due to RCI decisions. Nordin emphasized that the shipbuilder has been instructed to expedite work and prevent further delays. This position was evident after an event in Kota Tinggi, where Nordin was responding to a Pasir Gudang MP's call for an expedited investigation following the Auditor-General’s Report 2/2026, which revealed the project was 7.55% behind schedule as of June 25. The ship's responsible manufacturer, Lumut Naval Shipyard (Lunas), has revised the Phase 1 delivery date to April 2027. This change occurred after Lunas informed the ministry that it could not commit to delivering the ship by December of the same year. Nordin advised that any inquiry into the project should be left to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and other relevant bodies. He also stated that the Malaysian government is continuing discussions with potential suppliers of missiles for LCS 1, but this procurement decision is not contingent on budget allocations for 2027. The vessel currently possesses surface-to-air missile systems and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, with electronic jamming systems already installed, while surface-to-surface missile systems are still pending installation.",
  "summary": "The defence minister says the shipbuilder has been told to accelerate work, while investigations into the project remain a separate matter.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "RCI not a determinant of LCS1's completion, says Khaled",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/rci-not-a-determinant-of-lcs1s-completion-says-khaled",
        "published": "2026-10-11T07:29:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "LCS project completion independent of RCI, says Khaled",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/lcs-project-completion-independent-of-rci-says-khaled-13692813",
        "published": "2026-10-11T08:43:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}