KUALA LUMPUR OKT.5: The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) admits that the acquisition of the six Second Generation Patrol Vessels with the capacity of Littoral Combat Ship ( (LCS) has incurred 38.89 per cent delay.
Senior Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said, for that reason the government has imposed a Delay Fine of RM80, 637,793.64 million and EURO 4,524,618.97.
The Senior Minister said, when Kota Raja Member of Parliament (MP) was the Defence Minister under Pakatan Harapan Government, on 29th October 2019 he explained that three factors had caused the delay in the purchase of the LCS namely i) contractor had failed to complete the design on the scheduled time ii) contractor was late to finalise the purchase of part of the equipments iii) the quality of work did not follow the specifications.
“As of 23rd Sept.2021, the work progress for LCS was 57.05 per cent compared to the original working schedule that was 95.94 per cent.
“The purchase of the six vessels with LCS capacity had started in 2010. The proposal was then brought to the Cabinet Ministers on 18th Aug.2010.
“On 23rd March 2011, basically the government had agreed to approve the application under the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015) and 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2020),” Hishammuddin said to the question raised on the purchase of MAF asset involving the building of LCS in the summing up of the 12th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat here today.
The question was raised by Port Dickson MP, on the issue related to the purchase of MAF assets involving the building of LCS.
The Minister also stressed that to strengthen the security of Sabah and Sarawak, MAF is building the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN- Headquarters of Maritime Territories 4-MAWILLA) in Sarawak specifically in Bintulu, based on the strategic location and centralised maritime operations in South China Sea.
“It has been a long time for the capacity and the RMN operations’ support to be elevated. RMN with the Federal Government and State government is now identifying the suitable place to build the MAWILLA4 in Bintulu,” Hishammuddin said.
Meanwhile, he said, the Malaysian Army has taken into consideration all aspects of potential security threats as a whole in Sabah and has placed the Infantry Division to be responsible and equipped with attacking capabilities three Infantry Brigades to handle any form of threats via the strategy that has been outlined.
Hishammuddin added, this includes via the First Division Infantry in Sarawak and Fifth Division Infantry that have been formed in Sabah and 13th Brigade Infantry that is based in FELDA Sahabat, Lahad Datu.
“Insya Allah the Ministry of Defence and MAF will always give its attention and focus fully on the security threats in Sabah East Coast,” Hishammuddin said.
The Senior Minister of Defence said that in response to Kota Belud MP and Sepanggar MP who raised the question of the building of the new Fifth Brigade Headquarters in Kota Belud which sees no form of threats in that area and suggested the new camp should be built in the Sabah East Coast that has bigger security threats. –Malaysia World News
