BNS is an associate company of Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Bhd (BHIC).

In a statement today, BHIC chief executive officer Sharifuddin Md Zaini Al-Manaf said the project had been at a standstill since 2019.

“The main objective of this supplementary contract is to enable remobilisation activities, allowing BNS to resume payments to creditors, original equipment manufacturers and financial institutions.

“The next few months are crucial for BNS to make an extensive assessment on the condition of all equipment and the existing ships in their respective stages of construction,” he said.

Under the LCS revival plan, the government would set up a project monitoring committee to supervise the project over the mobilisation period.

Sharifuddin also said that with the experienced and qualified project management team and facilities at BHIC’s disposal, the company could look forward to further contributing to strengthening the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) armada and safeguarding Malaysia’s maritime security and interests.

On April 22, defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced that the Cabinet had unanimously agreed to continue with the procurement of the LCS for the RMN.

BNS was awarded a RM9.1 billion contract in 2011 to build six LCS units.

The LCS are among the key assets in RMN’s “15 to 5 Fleet Transformation Programme” to strengthen its armada with modern, fit-for-purpose ships to bolster Malaysia’s maritime security.