MALAYSIANS should not be taken in easily by the government’s explanation on the multi-billion-ringgit littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal, Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said today.

Comparing the LCS project to Malaysia’s biggest scandal in history yet, 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), Syed Saddiq said the explanation given by the government was the “biggest betrayal” to the people.

“This (LCS scandal) is not something small.

“This is the biggest betrayal to our beloved country.

“The country’s sovereignty is at stake because of the way the government is handling the scandal,” the Muar MP said today at the “Mana Kapal LCS” protest.

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

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 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.

Syed Saddiq said the arguments given by those in the government were baseless and added similar promises were given when the 1MDB scandal came to light.

“They said the current (LCS) project was given to a government (linked) company and it yielded dividends and would benefit veteran members.

“When we fought the 1MDB scandal, they (the government then) said something similar, where they said that 1MDB is a government company and the ones who will benefit are Malaysians.

“But today, the truth has prevailed. It is proven that billions were wasted just like that.

“Two courts have proven this by passing a verdict on the (1MDB) case. So, don’t fall for their (government’s) scam,” the former youth and sports minister said.

Syed Saddiq said the fate of veterans and defence members are similar to those who were victimised by the 1MDB scandal.

“Their (army veterans) fate is at stake because of corruption at the highest level,” he added.

He also urged media members, who were given a special tour of the shipbuilder’s yard in Lumut, Perak, earlier this week, not to be taken in easily.
“Almost 12 years later, not a single ship is completed.

“Media members, don’t fall for their scams.

“The same ship that the defence minister (Hishammuddin) showed back then as “completed” is the same ship that is still said to be under construction today.

Yesterday, in a rare media tour of the shipbuilders’ yard in Lumut, Perak, BNS showed where all the items were stored and allowed reporters on board the LCS 1 that was still under construction.

The media was given a glimpse of the storage facilities in the shipyard. – August 14, 2022.