PAKATAN Harapan (PH) leaders should not have changed their stance on the controversial littoral combat ship (LCS) project after becoming the government, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said.

Without mentioning names, the Muar lawmaker said the leaders of the current government should “walk their talk” by taking action against those involved in the scandal and ensure that they are brought to justice without any cover-ups. 

“Previously, action was taken, last year. Then it was mentioned that they are just the “small fish”. 

“Those who said this are currently in the government. Now that you’re in government, (make sure) take action. There is no reason to cover up,” the Muda president said in the Parliament lobby during a press conference.

Syed Saddiq said the LCS issue should not be used as a “bait” just for elections and then discarded. 

“Don’t let people feel that the LCS issue is politicised just for election purposes and after elections (don’t assume) people don’t care about it anymore,” he said.

“This involves the people’s money, this involves the safety of the people, and this involves the sovereignty of the people. 

“If other countries look at our country’s defence situation, how are we supposed to answer when there is no integrity? 

“Before the election, you say one thing and then after the election it changes. There is no justice to it then. 

“In the end, people are suffering. Billions are wasted but no one ends up being brought to justice and we let things continue as usual. It should not be this way,” Syed Saddiq added. 

The former youth and sports minister also chastised the government for agreeing to increase the cost of the project despite none of the vessels delivered to date. 

“Since the contract was signed in 2011 and to date, not a single ship has been completed. 

“Furthermore, RM6 billion of the people’s money has been spent and now the cost has been increased to RM11 billion but the number of vessels has been reduced from six to five,” he said. 

In August 2022, as opposition leader, Anwar urged Putrajaya to halt the remainder of the project involving the navy’s LCS project, which he termed as the “biggest scandal” in his time of service.

Upon assuming the premiership following the formation of the unity government, Anwar in March this year said investigations into the LCS project must continue and that the previous prosecutions were not enough as they did not even involve the main culprits behind the project’s failure.

A street protest called “Mana Kapal LCS” was also held in August 2022. Several politicians who are currently serving in the unity government also took part in the protest, among them being Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister and PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. 

Meanwhile, it was previously reported that former Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Bhd managing director Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust totalling RM21 million over the LCS project scandal.

The 78-year-old former Royal Malaysian Navy chief, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Ramli in his capacity as the then Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd managing director was alleged to have approved payments of RM13,541,140, RM1,360,716, and RM6,182,295 to three Singaporean companies without approval from BNS’ board of directors.

Earlier today, Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul rejected an emergency motion to debate the controversial littoral combat ship (LCS) project. – June 8, 2023.