Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein during press conference after visit the newly-opened polyclinic at Kem Penrissen in Kuching. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / The Star
KUCHING: The government will continue with the littoral combat ship (LCS) project to meet the Royal Malaysian Navy's needs, says Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
The Defence Minister said the recommendations of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the troubled project would be taken into consideration.
"I have informed the Cabinet and PAC about the timeline to complete the ships.
"What is important now is our journey in the next six months after getting the green light from the Cabinet to continue the project," he told a press conference after opening the Armed Forces polyclinic at Kem Penrissen here on Friday (Aug 5).
ALSO READ: RM1.4bil of LCS allocation used for other purposes, says PAC
On Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's call for phase six of the LCS project to be cancelled, Hishammuddin said it was made for political mileage.
He said cancelling the project would go against the PAC's recommendations as well as the Pakatan Harapan administration's decision to continue it when the coalition was in power.
ALSO READ: Anwar calls for cancellation of phase six of LCS project
"If you look at the PAC report and its recommendations, none of them says the project should be cancelled.
"In addition, over 400 vendors are depending on the project to continue, 90% of whom are involved with Armed Forces veterans.
"If (Anwar) wants to help the veterans, cancelling the project is not the way to do it," Hishammuddin said.
ALSO READ: The guilty in LCS scandal will pay, says Hisham
On Thursday (Aug 4), the Opposition leader had called for phase six of the project to be cancelled as it had not started.
He said the RM571mil allocation for phase six should be used instead to address the rising cost of living and the welfare and pensions of veterans.
