SHAH ALAM: AS reported previously it was planned under the sixth supplementary contract that the first LCS – PCU Maharaja Lela – will be put into water or using the technical term – down slip – in May, this year. The down slipping took place on May 21 based on leaked pictures
Some two weeks later, Lunas had not seen fit to put out a release of the event though. It must be said that this is not a great achievement as it is almost ten years since the first steel was cut and seven years after Maharaja Lela was launched.
Anyhow I took the trouble to travel to Pangkor Island last week to see for myself whether she was down-slipped or not. From the dirty windows of the ferries – to and fro – Maharaja Lela could be seen berthed adjacent to the hardstand where she was built. Behind her was KD Kasturi which had been at the yard since 2021 undergoing her refit.
Unlike in the past, the Pangkor ferries no longer allowed passengers to stand on the rear deck which would have allowed better pictures of the shipyard and Maharaja Lela.
I had done this before in 2017 and 2001 but this time around I had to take pictures from inside the cabin through the dirty cabin windows. I asked the workers the reason they only said that this was no longer allowed.
From the Lumut ferry terminal one cannot see Maharaja Lela on the water as the RMN jetty where the ships are berthed blocked the view. One could see the work on the extension of the RMN jetty from the ferry terminal (see above) which was announced in mid-2023.
Although she is in the water, Maharaja Lela is not out of the woods yet. More trials are ahead of her as her commissioning is only planned in 2026 (see the graphic above).
It must be noted that Maharaja Lela could be taken back on the hardstand if more work is needed. As Lunas used a ship lift, the up and down slip process is less dramatic than traditional launches.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (44)
Interestingly latest news seems to point to the LCS2 being "downslipped" by Dec 2024.
Lets see if this happens.
BTW I hope that history should note that LCS1 real launch date should be 21 may 2024, not the fake one on 24 August 2017.
I still hope that I can see the keel laid for LCS6 in around 2026/27. I still feel that completing all 6 Gowinds is better and quicker than getting LMS Batch 2 Corvettes.
Good effort. Was thinking of doing that as well but the last I was in Lumut, I noticed most of the ferries now operate from the Marina side and the Lumut town end only operates mainly on weekends. Still hesitate to make the trip.
Will tomorrow's visit by the Menhan to view the LCS1 happen?
No idea, really
Marhalim, I need to clarify this:
Last I asked, you said there is no funding for LCS6. If funding become available in the future it might go ahead right? After all, the steel is already there.
I just wanna confirm that it’s not definite cancelled.
Yes, as I mentioned before currently its cancelled but if the first five is completed according to the current schedule, it will be politically expedient for the sixth one to be revived.
Better just call it 'Maharaja Lewat' (no pun on the royalty or said person)
Maharaja Lela is a title.
@Hulu
"completing all 6 Gowinds is better and quicker than getting LMS2"
There is no if and or here. LMS2 (bar the 1st unit) will follow on from the last LCS to be built in LUNAS. Whether LMS2 starts early or later will depend on when the last LCS rolls off the line whether it be unit 5 or 6. So its not a competing program or a spare program, LMS2 is a natural follow on from LCS.
BTW any updates on OPV #2 & #3? Is the yard totally shuttered and no more workers?
datuk maharajalela (the stickman that shagged JWW Birch) is not royalty.
The Maharaja Lela only planned the killing of JWW Birch. His underling, Si Putom, was the one who killed Birch, some say was Putom was an orang asal.
Googling seems to point to this person: Dato Maharaja Lela or Lela Pandak Lam (died on 20 January 1877) was a chief and nationalist from Perak
So just to be safe in case goodness knows somebody takes umbrage at that joke.
Maharaja Lela is the title of the noble person appointed by the Sultan. His job is basically a judge, jury and executioner though the last one was usually done by his underlings. The title is still carried on this day as part of 16 orang besar perak
If the last 6th LCS proceed should I suggest the name Rosli Dhoby? The person who stab the 2nd Sarawak British governor...
They already named the sixth LCS as KD Mat Kilau
I think LCS must be finished. It adds insult to injury that the last LCS ship is not finished and the steel just sits there. The government must make sure that money is eventually allocated for it to be finished. Eventually….