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Saturday, April 29, 2023

The farcical RM9b LCS defence project

 


Previous governments (read Umno Baru-run administrations) were claimed to have used taxpayers’ money and specific ministries as “cash cows”.

For the former (taxpayer), think of all the vanity and white elephant projects that have drained the public purse and have now closed down.

Among them is the theme park in Ipoh, the Movie Animation Park Studios. Taxpayers funded the project but we were never given the opportunity to have a say in its viability.

Forget about transparency and accountability in our political administrations. Many Malaysians would have found out about the project only with the huge media presence at the signing ceremony of the joint project between the minister, the state's Development Corporation board and the private company.

In Malaysia, they sign first, then quibble over the specifications later. That is probably how the project costs balloon later.

We don't learn from our mistakes because politicians have no intention of improving themselves.

Why should they and their crony business associates put a stop to these proven money spinners? Why should they care? It's not their money.

As for the ministries, our Defence Ministry is quite infamous. Over the decades, there have been several allegations of bribery and corruption, where foreign officials (for example in Scorpene) have allegedly been bribed, equipment has been lost, or gone missing during an audit, or they simply fell off the back of a lorry.

But has anyone or any company been found guilty and punished for their crimes?

Despite knowing the identity of the rogue or corrupt company, did the Finance Ministry exclude them in the bidding for new contracts?

Or will the government claim that it involved direct negotiation in the interest of national security?

Yesterday, Navy chief, Admiral Abdul Rahman Ayob announced that the project for the construction of the littoral combat ships (LCS) was imminent.

Navy Chief Admiral Abdul Rahman Ayob

Why not update us on the progress of the investigation into the missing RM6 billion, and the non-delivery of the six littoral combat ship (LCS) vessels?

Rahman also mentioned the delivery of sub-standard equipment for the littoral mission ship (LMS) project. Was an investigation conducted?

Last December, the newly appointed Defence Minister, Mohamad Hasan, told reporters that he wanted to study the background of the delays surrounding the LCS project, and have a better understanding of the issues.

Defence Minister Mohamad Hasan

Then he dropped the clanger. He said, "We will ensure that the ships are built; no point talking about history."

The study of history is lost on Mohamad Hasan. Without history, how will we learn from other peoples' and or our own past mistakes?

We study history to act properly now to create a better society for the future. Mohamad Hasan needs to question his own grip on reality.

If ministers and senior officials in the Defence Ministry had been investigated and charged for bribery, and corruption, for the numerous scandals over the decades, then we would not be haemorrhaging billions of ringgits to corrupt vendors, fake companies, former officers and politicians.

The LCS project involves huge sums of taxpayers' money. RM6 billion has already been forked out to the contractors for five out of six LCS vessels. The money has disappeared, and none of the ships are ready.


We then learn that the main contractor paid off his debtors. So, is the Malaysian taxpayer going to be reimbursed?

Why were previous defence ministers, (and former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak) under whose watch the LCS vessels were procured in a long, drawn-out process, careless with how they spent our money?

Why didn't they check the financial health of the main contractor, who spent some of the RM6 billion, settling its debts?

Why was former defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi allowed to change the specifications of the LCS vessels without consulting the end user?

With his abysmal track record, why should any Malaysian have to tolerate him in government?

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Hishammuddin Hussein, another of the lacklustre defence ministers, has gone into hiding. He claimed the first of the vessels had been delivered a few years ago.

The due date came and went. He has not been made accountable for his non-performance. The LCS is not the only scandal under his watch.

Some Malaysians may argue that there are other more important issues to consider and the LCS scandal is not that important in the hierarchy of things.

Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein

Perhaps, they too need a lesson in history. We had allowed the big sharks, who were also corrupt decision-makers, to escape justice.

When others see how easy it is to manipulate the system, more crimes and scandals proliferate. That is why we must see the LCS scandal to completion.

There is little point in spending time, resources, money and manpower investigating, but then allowing the corrupt to get off scot-free.

Politicians cut deals with their peers, cronies and some retired armed forces officers, in their new roles as defence contractors. Taxpayers’ money seems to be passed around, among this “private club”.

Mohamad Hasan should stop being obtuse, or try to pull the wool over our eyes in this LCS scandal.

If he can't bring himself to punish the wrongdoers, then it is time the finance minister (also the prime minister), pulled his finger out.

The unity government is on borrowed time. Reforms are important, and so is accountability. - Mkini


MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, Twitter.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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