KUALA LUMPUR: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) views seriously the delays in the construction of the littoral combat ships (LCS) belonging to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).
Its chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the disclosure of the delays in the construction of the ships, which still requires careful and regular monitoring of progress, was both shocking and worrying.
She said the progress of the LCS ships construction project was presented to the PAC today, in proceedings attended by Defence Ministry secretary-general, Datuk Seri Isham Ishak; LCS project leader, Admiral Franklin Jeyasekhar Joseph and Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd chief executive officer, Captain (Rtd) Azhar Jumaat.
"PAC wants the contractor, as well as the LCS project team, to take proactive steps to resolve the problem.
"This committee, however, welcomes Isham's statement, that the Defence Ministry will take immediate action to ensure that the delay issue can be addressed," she said, in a statement today.
Mas Ermieyati said the length of the delay in the construction of the LCS ships could not be disclosed now, due to compliance with Standing Order 85 of the Dewan Rakyat.
She said the report on today's proceedings will be presented in the Defence Ministry's follow-up action report on the PAC's recommendations, regarding the LCS ships in the Dewan Rakyat sitting, which will convene from Feb 26.– BERNAMA