He said this reduction was agreed upon after the government discussed proceeding with the controversial project, Bernama reported.

“There were supposed to be six LCS units originally. However, when we presented the application (to proceed with the project) and discussed it again, we agreed for it to be reduced to five.

“This decision had been made long ago, when the government decided to proceed with the LCS (project last year),” he said.

Rahman was hopeful that there would be no more surprises and that the frigates would be delivered on time.

On Jan 5, defence minister Mohamad Hasan said the unity government will go ahead with the LCS project as part of strengthening the country and navy’s defences.

The LCS project, said to be the largest defence procurement in Malaysia’s history, came under much scrutiny last year after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed that not a single ship had been completed although Putrajaya had already paid out RM6.08 billion on the project.

The PAC said the navy should have received five of the ships by August last year.

The project had been awarded to Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) through direct negotiations.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was defence minister in 2011, was among top officials summoned by the PAC during its probe.

The others summoned included former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein, defence ministry secretary-general Muez Abd Aziz, former auditor-general Ambrin Buang, former navy chief Reza Sany, and the CEO and chief operating officer of BNS.

Last March, the Ismail Sabri Yaakob-led administration decided to proceed with the project, before the release of the PAC report in August.

Hishammuddin, who was defence minister then, had said the first LCS was expected to be completed this year.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which investigated the project, had recommended that several individuals be charged.

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