Telok Sengat:The establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate delays in the Royal Malaysian Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project is not a determining factor in the timely completion of the country's defense asset.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated that the shipbuilder had been instructed to expedite work and ensure no further delays occur. He emphasized that the completion of LCS 1 is independent of the RCI, noting that otherwise, the ship would remain incomplete.

Mohamed Khaled addressed these concerns after attending the first harvest of the KayTi JanaVeteran Ginger Project and the launch of JanaKomuniti at Telok Sengat Farm and Felda Air Tawar. His comments were in response to Pasir Gudang MP Hasan Karim's call for an expedited investigation into the LCS project, prompted by the Auditor-General's Report, which found the project was 7.55 percent behind schedule as of June 25.

Lumut Naval Shipyard (LUNAS), responsible for constructing Malaysia's first LCS, has set April 2027 as the revised delivery date for LCS 1 to the Defence Ministry under Phase 1. This adjustment follows LUNAS's inability to commit to a December delivery this year.

On the investigation front, Mohamed Khaled stated that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and relevant authorities should handle the matter. He also mentioned previous legal actions against a former Navy chief linked to the LCS project.

In terms of armament, Mohamed Khaled revealed that the government is negotiating with several countries to procure a surface-to-surface missile system for LCS 1, to replace Norway's Naval Strike Missile. This procurement is prioritized independently of the Budget 2027 allocation, to ensure the ship is fully equipped promptly. Currently, the ship is outfitted with surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and an electronic jamming system, with surface-to-surface missiles being the missing component.