SHAH ALAM: Run for your lives. Its appears that there was possible irregularities had occurred in Boustead Naval Shipyard as it manages the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project. The possible irregularities – likely graft – was uncovered by a forensic audit conducted by Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Bhd (BHIC), the associate company of BNS. BHIC lodged a report with MACC over the irregularities in September.
BHIC chairman TS Ramlan Ali (centre) greeting Defence Minister DS Ismail Sabri when the latter visited the BNS yard in mid-November to check on the LCS project. The LCShull in the background looked appeared to be fitted with the propellers but without the rudder. I am guessing that this is the second hull as it does not have water marks on it. Kementerian Pertahanan picture.
From the Edge.
BHIC said the findings of the forensic audit, which was commissioned in February 2020, were handed over to the MACC in September.
“This stands testimony to the BHIC’s group commitment in fighting corruption and bribery at all levels of the organisation and in all its business dealings. This is in line with its core corporate values of belonging, honour, integrity and commitment,” BHIC chairman TS Ramlan Ali said.
“BHIC Group would like to categorically state that it takes a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption outlined in the MACC Act 2009. As enshrined in the group’s Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy Statement, we abide by the Guidelines of Adequate Procedure pursuant to Section 17A of the Act,” BHIC said in the statement.
In fact, it highlighted that the board of directors have already undergone major revamp in 2019 and 2020 to enhance corporate governance by appointing personalities known for their expertise in their respective fields.
“BHIC reiterates that the company will extend its fullest cooperation to MACC and other authorities in any investigation on the LCS project. It has had several discussions with MACC following the submission of the forensic audit report,” it added.
Ramlan, a former navy chief took over as chairman of BHIC as part of the major revamps mentioned above.
A CGI of the LCS, a 3100 tonne Gowind frigate.
It is interesting to note that the MACC report was lodged in September and BHIC only chose to highlight it, two months later. And unlike other cases it appears that so far no one has reported whether or not – serving or former – BNS personnel had been asked to appear or detained by the MACC to assist in the investigations unlike other graft cases.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (75)
RMN LCS - one of the best design of a frigate, for the time being.
Thanks to the Bofors 57mm Mkll main gun as compared to Al-Fateh.
Reply
I prefer the bigger gun
ZekMR "RMN LCS – one of the best design of a frigate, for the time being."
No point making these feel-good statements. On what basis have you compared the LCS to other designs of similar cost, size and purpose?
@ marhalim
US navy and also the Royal navy are turning to the Bofors 57mm as their main frigate armament.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-697xvD_6tqY/Xq9lDQH2D0I/AAAAAAAACj4/0CSUDZum0VMm9ZTmpJJcVfKvnQM0KZGSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Fincantieri%2BFrigate%2BConcept.jpg
This is the future USN FF(X) based on the FREMM.
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZf9Wl8XQAAfEFy.jpg
Royal Navy T31
Both large frigates has the bofors 57mm as their main armament.
Why?
The 57mm has higher rate of fire (220rpm) than the 76mm super rapid (120rpm), so it can spew out more explosives at a target. a few advanced ammunition is also in the works for the 57mm like OKRA and MAD-FIRES. So it can also be used as a CIWS for the ship.
http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/naval-exhibitions/2015/sea-air-space-2015/2612-bae-systems-unveils-the-orka-one-shot-one-kill-round-for-57mm-gun-at-sea-air-space-2015.html
http://www.overtdefense.com/2019/05/08/mad-fires-57mm-shell-may-provide-expanded-capabilities-to-navys-mk-110-guns/
But it is good to have both 57mm and 76mm. As our ASW Frigates are going for the 57mm, future replacements for Lekiu/kasturi we should go for 76mm.
Reply
Boustead chose the gun because its subsidiary is the local Bofors company. Not for other reasons
@ AM
" No point making these feel-good statements "
Actually I agree with ZekMR. It is one of the best frigate in its weight class, design wise and also what we have chosen to fit into the gowind platform. For what it is, yes it is expensive, but worth what we paid for it. It is such a pity that the program is in such a predicament, and i dont see any way we are going to get all 6 ships for RM9 billion ceiling. Either we must stump out the additional RM6 billion or forget about this altogether and go for a cheaper design such as the HDF-2600 and port over all the hardwares we already bought for the gowinds. We could ask Naval Group nicely if we could return all 6 Gowind hulls to them, in exchange for 1 additional Scorpene.
@ marhalim
AFAIK the Bofors was also the gun wanted by the navy. One of a few items that Boustead and TLDM are on the same page.
Reply
No RMN wanted the 76mm gun but it became a fait accompli when Boustead got the deal to go with the Gowind design
Traditionally the USN and RN have gone for larger calibre main guns because primary focus was NGFS. a 127mm or 4.5 inch gun is great for NGFS [has the range, the 'bang' and can fire guided munition/'smart' but not so useful for the AA role which wasn't an issue for both navies given that NGFS was seen as a vital requirement and that in times of war both would be operating under a strong air umbrella. With regards to smaller calibre guns its not just the ROF which make them great for AA but the fire control and type of ammo.
AM - ''No point making these feel-good statements.''
Indeed; very subjective.
Also he's looking a things from a platform perspective. A different ship; less LO features [useful but not a panacea] and not as 'high tech' as the LCS but with better 'connectivity' might perform better. Things are subjective and are dependent on multiple factors; why i never rush to apply the ''best'' label on anything; irrespective of whether i have a fondness or penchant for it.
... - ''One of a few items that Boustead and TLDM are on the same page.''
No .... The RMN originally wanted the latest variant of the Super Rapid.
Wow, I am shocked, shocked. Who would've thought this to be the case. In Malaysia? How could it be?
Stump out additional funds for Defence if you like, it will always be a case of pouring water into a leaky bucket.
@...
The USN's choice of 57mm for the LCS has been quite strongly criticised especially when comparing its range and payload against the minimum 76mm fielded by most countries' frigates. Keeping it for FFGX is also likely to be a cost-based decision.
Likewise T31 is also being built under severe budget constraints.
Of course for us there is commonality with our existing fleet, which is a major cost factor.
Overall, I'd say the choice of 57mm is not really a positive, but I would acknowledge that it is necessary given our limitations.
Reply
It was not necessary really, as the ship was designed from the outset for a 76mm gun. Another technical issue -though relatively easy - that had to be done. I guess we will never know the actual cost of changing the gun.
Chua - ''Overall, I’d say the choice of 57mm is not really a positive, but I would acknowledge that it is necessary given our limitations.''
It's not ''positive'' because the decision was dictated by the local industry.
The Mk3 is a great gun [nothing wrong with the calibre per see] and so is the Super Rapid; none are the ''best''; depending on what the end user prefers. The Mk3 has a [on paper] good ability to deal with various types of airborne threats with 3P ammo but f course that's only part of the equation; the others being early warning and fire control. The ability of the barrel to be concealed is great but to me no big factor major factor to me. Lowering the RCS of the mount and by doing so the whole ship; is always great but there are various things at play. The RMN wanted the Super Rapid because it preferred a slightly larger round and for other reasons but ultimately whether it was the Mk3 or Super Rapid; makes no major difference.
Reply
Nexter has also produce a similar round to the 3P
@ azlan, marhalim
" The RMN originally wanted the latest variant of the Super Rapid "
I stand corrected.
@ chua
You are shocked by what? There is no proven wrongdoing for now on the Gowinds. Unlike the scorpene, 1mdb, the recent immigration fiasco etc. The fact that Boustead, not MACC that broke this news means its just Boustead proactive move to just give MACC any questionable documents it found for MACC to check.
So dont jump the gun, like reports of scorpenes "cannot dive" when it is just a paperwork thing during trials.
i can see a gloom cloud over the LCS project.
Worst ever, none of the ship will be in the fleet after large sum of fund channel to this project. i can't wait to see who or whom will be the main actor in this wrongdoing saga.stop making statement after statement.Now is time to see firm ACTION taken.
Any chance of getting the money back. If the monies were paid using Shipyard account, we can surely ask the guilty party to return the money or sue them?
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Not really as it was the other way around