Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari assures no safety or technical standards will be lowered for the delayed Littoral Combat Ship project ahead of handover to the navy.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Defence will not compromise on safety, operational, or technical specifications for the Littoral Combat Ship project before its handover to the Royal Malaysian Navy.
Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari (pic) said the ministry remains firm that operational needs and personnel safety are non-negotiable, despite previous delays and a revised schedule.
He stated that perceptions of no progress in the last three years are inaccurate, as construction, port testing, and sea trial preparations have continued under the project’s recovery plan.
“As of Dec 25, the overall progress of the LCS project has reached 75%, compared with 81.57% under the original schedule,” he said during the winding-up debate in the Dewan Rakyat.
Adly explained that recovery efforts continue in focused phases to ensure the ship meets set standards, despite the progress gap.
The first ship is scheduled for sea trials in April 2026, with delivery revised from December 2025 to December 2026.
The second ship is expected to be delivered in August 2027.
He also addressed allegations of interference, stressing there has been no manipulation of the project’s implementation or reporting.
Adly said the project has incorporated previous Public Accounts Committee recommendations, with a special monitoring committee established with the Ministry of Finance.
This committee ensures technical and financial aspects are managed properly.
He added that the ministry has extended full cooperation to all investigations, including those by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
“Our core responsibility is to ensure the successful implementation of the LCS project,” he stated.
Adly affirmed that the entire government procurement process is based on transparency, integrity, accountability, and value for money.
Checks and balances include technical committee assessments and Procurement Board approval within prescribed limits.
