LCS motion: Don’t move goalposts, Syed Saddiq told

 

PKR Youth has accused Muar MP Syed Saddiq of “shifting goalposts” on the littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal.

This is as the Muda president continued to hit out against the government after his motion to debate the matter was rejected by Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul.

On Thursday, Syed Saddiq claimed that the speaker’s letter stated it was rejected because the issue was “not a matter of public interest” and “not urgent”.

Later in the Dewan Rakyat, Johari said the Muda president was not being fair to him as he had explained clearly in his letter to the latter.

This did not satisfy Syed Saddiq, who later accused the government of hypocrisy.

“Before the general election, (they said) ‘this is worse than 1MDB! The biggest heist! Imprison LCS criminals’.

“But after the general election, (they say) ‘wait for the report. Be patient’. Hypocrites,” he tweeted on Thursday night.

PKR Youth, in a statement today, said Syed Saddiq had put the Dewan Rakyat and government in a bad light by implying it was indirectly avoiding and shielding the LCS probe.

The wing said the real issue here is that the motion presented by the lawmaker to the Dewan Rakyat speaker is considered incomplete.

This is because it does not satisfy the three important elements – definite, urgent, and of public interest – with these elements outlined based on their propriety, not only on the issue one wants to raise.

“Syed Saddiq’s dispute on the increase in cost and the reduction of ships had also been answered by the Defence Ministry.

“The ministry attributed it to the changes in specifications and inflation, as well as the delay in the project's construction will continue to increase the constriction cost and cannot be delayed any longer.

“Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari has also placed priority and commitment to complete the first LCS, which is expected to be completed in November 2024 and commissioned to the Royal Malaysian Navy by year-end in 2026.”

Bemoaning Syed Saddiq and Muda’s continuous actions in spreading misinformation discrediting the government, PKR Youth urged the government secretariat to examine and reprimand the lawmaker and Muda’s application to be part of Pakatan Harapan.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has reopened its probe on the LCS project and visited the naval shipyard where the vessels are being constructed yesterday. - Mkini