THE initial RM6 billion spent by the government to build six littoral combat ships (LSC), which have yet to be completed, could have been put to use for other beneficial purposes, protesters heard today.

Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) information chief Luqman Long did not argue with the allocation given to the defence ministry for the improvement of the country’s defence but was angry that the money disbursed had not shown any results, claiming the government had abused public funds.

“What can we do with the RM6 billion?

“This RM6 billion can be used to build 243 schools and 108,000 houses, and can provide free breakfast to 200,000 students for a total of 64 years.

“Tell this to your parents, relatives, friends, and neighbours.

“But I don’t want that money to be used for education or housing because the funds are meant for our military.

“The funds are for our Malaysian Navy but it has been more than 12 years (since the contract was agreed and signed) yet there isn’t even a single ship to be seen,” Luqman told protesters today during the Mana Kapal LCS protest today.

The LCS project is the largest procurement in the history of the ministry, at a total cost of RM9 billion.

Close to 200 people attended the protest at the city centre today, including Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, DAP central executive committee member Howard Lee, Muda secretary-general Amira Aisya and Selangor Amanah Youth leader Abbas Azmi.

Last week, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) released its report on the ministry’s purchase of LCSs from Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd through direct negotiations.

Although the government had already paid RM6.08 billion in costs, none of the ships had been delivered.

According to the original schedule, five LCSs should have been delivered to the ministry by this month. 

Luqman also called for current defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein, who had overseen this project during his previous four-year tenure in the same portfolio, to be arrested for his failure to deliver on the project.

The group organising the protest today put forth three demands to the government, which was to investigate the whereabouts of the ships and form a royal commission of inquiry (RCI), calling for current defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein to resign for failing to take responsibility on the project’s failure and to respond to the complaints made by then navy commander Abdul Aziz Jaafar on the purchase of the ships.

Muda co-founder Amir Abd Hadi also reiterated calls from the task force and several other quarters for Hishammuddin to step down.

“The RM6 billion spent on the ships is just not the public’s money but also the country’s assets.

“They are to be used if there are any threats against the country but with what is being shown, we highly doubt that,” he said, adding that the media tour to the shipyard in Lumut, Perak, showed a poor condition of the vessel.

Yesterday, media were brought for a rate tour of the shipbuilders’ yard in Lumut, Perak, where Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) Sdn showed where all the items were stored and allowed reporters on board the LCS 1, which is still under construction.

Meanwhile, Selangor Amanah youth chief Abbas Azmi, who was also present at the rally, explained how the privileged, especially politicians, get off without being punished for high level crime.

“In Malaysia, you steal a loaf of bread, you go to prison but if you steal billions, you can still remain in Putrajaya,” he said.

The protest today was monitored by over 100 police officers from different departments who were seen on standby in front of the Sogo shopping complex. - August 14, 2022.