RCI Not a Determining Factor in Speeding Up LCS Completion – Mohamed Khaled
KOTA TINGGI: The establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate delays in the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project is not a determining factor in ensuring the speedy completion of the country’s defence assets.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the shipbuilder had been instructed to expedite the necessary work and ensure that further delays do not occur.
“The completion of LCS 1, whether it is finished or not, does not depend on the RCI. That is a separate matter. If we were to take that approach, the ship would never be completed.
“That is why we have instructed the shipbuilder to expedite the work and ensure there are no further delays,” he said.
He was speaking after attending the KayTi JanaVeteran Ginger First Harvest Programme and the launch of JanaKomuniti at Telok Sengat Farm and Felda Air Tawar here today.
Mohamed Khaled was responding to a call by Pasir Gudang Member of Parliament Hassan Abdul Karim for investigations into the LCS project to be expedited without relying on an RCI.
The call followed findings in the Auditor-General’s Report (LKAN) 2/2026, which revealed that the LCS project was 7.55 per cent behind schedule as of June 25.
Lumut Naval Shipyard (LUNAS), the company responsible for constructing LCS 1 for Malaysia, has set April 2027 as the new delivery date for the vessel under Phase 1 to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
The revised date was announced after LUNAS informed the ministry that it could no longer commit to or guarantee its earlier target of delivering LCS 1 by December this year.
Commenting on the investigation, Mohamed Khaled said the matter should be left to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and other relevant authorities.
He also referred to previous court proceedings involving a former Chief of Navy who had also served as Managing Director of Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) in connection with the LCS project.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled said the government was negotiating with several shortlisted countries to secure a supplier of surface-to-surface missiles for LCS 1 to replace Norway’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM).
He said the procurement was not dependent on allocations under Budget 2027, adding that the ministry wanted to ensure LCS 1 would not take too long to become fully equipped.
According to Mohamed Khaled, the vessel is currently equipped with surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-subsurface capabilities and an electromagnetic jamming system, with surface-to-surface missiles remaining the only equipment yet to be acquired.
BERNAMA