Old not obsolete: LCS equipment in storage still usable, says BNS CEO

LUMUT: Most of the equipment stored in warehouses at the Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) here are not obsolete as claimed and still usable, says Capt (R) Azhar Jumaat.

The BNS chief executive officer said the equipment would still be installed onto the six Royal Malaysian Navy littoral combat ships (LCS), pending certification by manufacturers.

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He said claims that 15% of the equipment was obsolete were not entirely accurate.

"Some are in the obsolescence phase and not totally obsolete yet," he said in a briefing during a visit by members of the press to the dockyard here on Saturday (Aug 13).

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"Some need routine maintenance for preservation, which could then last for another 25 years.

"Equipment such as television sets are for leisure and cannot be compared to mission-critical equipment like guns and missiles," he added.

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Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Wong Kah Who, in the PAC report on the LCS project, had said that 15% of the equipment stored at warehouses had become obsolete.

Azhar said five LCS were being built concurrently, with the first ship at the 60% completion stage, followed by the rest at 48%, 43%, 36% and 22% completion stages respectively.

"About RM1.8bil worth of equipment have already been installed on the ships," he said.

However, he said construction had yet to begin on the sixth ship.