Is Hisham prepared to submit first LCS progress report? - Kit Siang

 

DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang has questioned if Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein is prepared to submit to Parliament his first progress report on the RM9 billion littoral combat ships (LCS) scandal in October.

This comes after Hishammuddin told the Dewan Negara earlier this month that he will report the schedule and progress of the LCS construction project in stages.

The Iskandar Puteri MP pointed out that in April, the cabinet gave Hishamuddin six months to mobilise efforts to revive the project – and that period will be up by October.

"Is Hishammuddin in a position to submit his first report on the first day of Parliament on Oct 3?” Lim asked in a statement today.

During a question and answer session at the Dewan Negara sitting, Hishammuddin (above) said his ministry was given six months to mobilise efforts to revive the project, and he believed the first ship will be delivered to the Royal Malaysian Navy within two years.

“We will look at how we can ensure that the promised ships are delivered to the navy and those who are guilty are brought to justice.

“I will report (inform) to the public the phased schedule for the construction of the ship," he had said.

Lim urged Hishammuddin to explain to Parliament why the Defence Ministry reduced the number of ships - from two LCS to one - which the contractor must complete and deliver with no additional government funds.

"When Hishammuddin appeared before the Public Accounts Committee on Jan 25, he spoke about 'corporate restructuring' of the RM9 billion LCS contract and that the contractor Boustead Naval Shipyard will have to deliver two LCS without any new cost to the government.

"Hishammuddin should also explain to Parliament why he has been unable to convince the cabinet to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the scandal,” the DAP stalwart said.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob

Budget 2023 date

On Budget 2023, Lim agreed with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob that it was not unusual to have the budget day in Parliament fixed in early October, as during the time of fifth prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, it was always held in September, as below:

• Sept 10, 2004

• Sept 30, 2005

• Sept 7, 2006

• Sept 1, 2007

• Sept 7, 2008

In fact, Lim said during the last term of the first premiership of Dr Mahathir Mohamad from 2000 to 2003, the budget day all fell in September.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar confirmed that Parliament will resume on Oct 3 and that the change in the parliamentary calendar had nothing to do with the possible holding of an early general election. - Mkini