KUALA LUMPUR: The delay in the procurement of Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is due to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) stopping work due to financial problems.

Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the procurement process was delayed by 39.52 per cent or 43 months, resulting in payments to OEMs not being made according to the set schedule.

Apart from that, he said, the former Minister of Defence, Mohamad Sabu had explained three factors as the cause of the procurement delay, on 29 October 29 2019, among them, the contractor failed to complete the design within the stipulated period.

The Sembrong Member of Parliament said the contractor was also late in finalising the procurement of some equipment as well as the quality of work that did not follow the specifications.

“MINDEF (Ministry of Defence) itself has been called five times to give an explanation to the National Audit Department, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), while the Government Governance, Procurement and Finance Investigation Committee (JKSTUPKK) has been called three times.

“In fact, MINDEF also during the PH (Pakatan Harapan) government was questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) twice.

“Under my leadership, MINDEF and MAF (Malaysian Armed Forces) will give full cooperation and support to all investigations made by the body,” he said.

He said this when winding up the debate on the Policy Level Supply Bill 2022 for his ministry in the Dewan Rakyat, today.

The procurement of six Second Generation Patrol Vessels to meet the needs of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) to increase the fleet’s capacity based on the planning policy in 2010, which was then lifted through the Cabinet on August 18 that year.

Hishammuddin said, MINDEF is currently in the final stages of negotiations to prepare a recovery plan, apart from a workshop involving all stakeholders for the Restoration of the LCS Project has been held.

He said it was to ensure that a comprehensive recovery recommendation could be produced before being re-tabled to the Cabinet for approval and further action.

He said his priority as the current Senior Minister of Defence was to save the project because it was very important as the LCS ship was an asset needed by the RMN.

“In considering this proposal, the Ministry adheres to the principles of the critical needs of national defence, the Government’s contractual responsibilities and the company’s responsibilities based on the findings of JSTUPKK.

“The proposed recovery plan also takes into account the problems of companies and vendors. We can no longer look back. What has happened was a big enough lesson for the government.

“The plan will be presented to the cabinet for approval and if approved, the target is for the RMN to be able to acquire the first LCS ship by 2025,” he said.

By: Muhammad Yusri Muzamir
yusri.muzamir@bh.com.my
November 15, 2021 @ 6:42pm

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LCS lambat diterima 43 bulan

KUALA LUMPUR: Kelewatan perolehan Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) atau kapal tempur pesisir berpunca daripada pihak pengeluaran produk tulen (OEM) memberhentikan kerja susulan masalah kewangan.

Menteri Kanan Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, berkata proses perolehan itu mengalami kelewatan 39.52 peratus atau 43 bulan, menyebabkan pembayaran kepada OEM tidak dibuat mengikut jadual ditetapkan.

Selain itu, katanya, bekas Menteri Pertahanan, Mohamad Sabu sudah menjelaskan tiga faktor menjadi punca kelewatan perolehan, pada 29 Oktober 2019, antaranya kontraktor gagal menyiapkan reka bentuk dalam tempoh ditetapkan.

Ahli Parlimen Sembrong itu berkata, kontraktor juga lewat memuktamadkan perolehan sebahagian peralatan serta kualiti kerja yang tidak mengikut spesifikasi.

“MINDEF (Kementerian Pertahanan) sendiri telah lima kali dipanggil memberi penjelasan kepada pihak Jabatan Audit Negara, Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara (PAC), manakala Jawatankuasa Siasatan Tadbir Urus, Perolehan dan Kewangan Kerajaan (JKSTUPKK) pula tiga kali.

“Malah, pihak MINDEF juga semasa zaman pemerintahan PH (Pakatan Harapan) telah disoal siasat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) sebanyak dua kali.

“Di bawah kepimpinan saya, MINDEF dan ATM (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia) akan memberi kerjasama dan sokongan penuh kepada semua siasatan dibuat badan berkenaan,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika menggulung perbahasan Rang Undang-Undang Perbekalan 2022 Peringkat Dasar bagi kementeriannya di Dewan Rakyat, hari ini.

Perolehan enam kapal Second Generation Patrol Vessel itu bagi memenuhi keperluan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) bagi meningkatkan keupayaan armada berdasarkan dasar perancangan pada 2010, yang kemudiannya diangkat melalui Kabinet pada 18 Ogos tahun berkenaan.

Hishammuddin berkata, MINDEF kini di peringkat akhir rundingan bagi menyediakan pelan pemulihan, selain bengkel membabitkan semua pihakberkepentingan bagi Pemulihan Projek LCS sudah diadakan.

Katanya, ia bagi memastikan syor pemulihan komprehensif dapat dihasilkan sebelum diangkat semula ke Jemaah Menteri bagi kelulusan dan tindakan lanjut.

Beliau berkata, keutamaannya sebagai Menteri Kanan Pertahanan ketika ini ialah bagi menyelamatkan projek berkenaan kerana ia amat penting memandangkan kapal LCS adalah aset diperlukan TLDM.

“Dalam mempertimbangkan cadangan ini, Kementerian berpegang kepada prinsip keperluan kritikal pertahanan negara, tanggungjawab kontraktual Kerajaan dan tanggungjawab syarikat berdasarkan penemuan JSTUPKK.

“Cadangan pelan pemulihan ini turut mengambil kira pemasalahan syarikat dan vendor. Kita tidak boleh lagi pandang ke belakang. Apa yang telah berlaku menjadi pengajaran dan iktibar cukup besar buat kerajaan.

“Pelan ini akan dibentang kepada kabinet bagi kelulusan dan jika diluluskan, sasarannya ialah TLDM boleh memperoleh kapal LCS pertama pada 2025,” katanya.