Handover of first LCS still within same timeline, says Hishammuddin

 

In August, the defence ministry was given six months to mobilise efforts to revive the littoral combat ship project.

KUALA LUMPUR: The handover of the first littoral combat ship (LCS) to the navy is still within the timeline announced earlier, says defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

“We are holding on to what we announced earlier. We are all on the same page, the armed forces chief, navy chief, defence ministry (Mindef), Boustead, finance ministry and all the way to the Cabinet.

“We want to assure the people that the LCS project will go on. We will not protect anybody who is guilty if there is abuse and misappropriation,” he told a media conference after visiting SK Kementah and the armed forces’ Keluarga Malaysia houses at Desa Tun Hussein Onn, here.

He was commenting on media reports on the delay in the date of delivery for the LCS which was mentioned in a special interview with armed forces chief Affendi Buang in conjunction with the 89th Malaysian Armed Forces Day yesterday.

In August, Mindef was given six months to mobilise efforts to revive the project and Hishammuddin believed the first ship would be received by the navy in two years.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said his ministry was prepared in case of floods.

He said Mindef and the armed forces were also in the flood committee chaired by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“In terms of preparedness, we have no problems and are ready. In case of floods, we will deploy armed forces personnel and assets,” he said.

The meteorological department issued a forecast that the country would experience continuous heavy rain from mid-November. - FMT