KUALA LUMPUR (April 22): The Association of Marine Industries of Malaysia (AMIM) has welcomed the Cabinet's decision to proceed with the littoral combat ship (LCS) project.
AMIM also emphasized that mega projects related to shipping should be managed transparently, and opportunities given fairly and transparently to industry players and not via direct negotiations.
Its president Soo Jee Main said AMIM has appealed to the government to not give Malaysian military shipbuilding projects to foreign shipyards, as this would hamper the country's aspiration to become a leading regional maritime nation.
"Malaysian shipyards have the capacity and capability to build warships to meet Malaysian defence industry needs," he said in a media statement on Friday (April 22).
He said military or defence ship projects must be built in Malaysia because shipyards, shipbuilders, and ship designers have more than 100 years of experience in setting up Malaysia's first shipyard, Brooke Dockyard, since the early 1900s.
Soo said Malaysia's shipbuilding and ship repair industry encompasses the construction of various types of ships, such as ferries, barges, tug boats, offshore support vessels, yachts, fishing vessels, warships and patrol vessels.
"We have exported Malaysian-made ships to Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands (Fiji, Tokelau, New Caledonia), United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore," Soo said, adding that AMIM was ready to expand the "Made in Malaysia Ships" campaign.
Soo said in line with the government's National Recovery Plan, vis-a-vis the development of the shipping industry, shipbuilding and ship repairs can empower the people, propel business and stimulate the economy.
AMIM also stressed that the UAE navy had given recognition to local expertise and skills with the building and purchase of an 80-metre naval training ship (YD987) from Shin Yang Shipyard Sdn Bhd based in Miri, Sarawak.
Also, Piasau Slipways Sdn Bhd, a shipyard owned by Shin Yang had built and delivered two units of Alquwaisat and Alputaisi landing ships to the UAE navy in 2013.
He said the Malaysian government also strengthened its naval defence fleet with the purchase of six speedboats built by a local company, Gading Marine Industry Sdn Bhd based in Lumut Port Industrial Park.
* Credit news article from:https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/marine-industries-association-welcomes-cabinet-decision-resume-littoral-combat-ship-project