KUALA LUMPUR: Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein should not disregard the RM9 billion littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal as a "joke" by dismissing criticisms as being worried about his accomplishment, said Lim Guan Eng.

The DAP chairman said Hishammuddin's irresponsible answers on a serious matter relating to defence procurement would give a negative impression that degrades Malaysia's defence capabilities internationally.

"Hishammuddin should wake up and be serious in doing his job properly or else let the whole world see his egregious failure as a defence minister," he said in a statement today.

Yesterday, in responding to Lim's criticism that he was among the 10 failed ministers in the government, Hishammuddin said he knew that the former would never acknowledge his achievements as a minister. 

"In politics, if one was to accuse the other as a failure, it would mean that they are actually worried of the (allegedly) failed person's performance.

"If they do not care, it means we have not done our job. Keep talking, I hope he continues to do so."

Lim said Hishammuddin was wrong when insinuating the opposition's tendency to continuously criticise the government.

Hishammuddin had said yesterday that Lim would never praise him until "judgment day".

"Hishammuddin is wrong because I will praise him immediately if he can get the LCS delivered as scheduled.

"Full accountability for the RM9 billion LCS scandal is more important than either Hishammuddin or my Judgment Day," he said.

He said Hishamuddin's response to his criticism showed that he had ignored public outrage on LCS scandal.

"By saying that my criticism about his mishandling of the LCS scandal shows that 'If they don't care about us, that means we didn't do our work' ignores public outrage that RM6.08 billion has been paid but not a single LCS has been delivered out of the five LCS scheduled to be delivered by August 2022.

"By his perverted logic, if I do not talk about other ministers like Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, then Khairy is a failed minister.

"The public wants real answers by real ministers when national security can be compromised with naval assets undelivered despite paying RM6.08 billion. To-date Hishammuddin has not provided a full explanation on why such huge payments were approved," he said.

He added that Hishammuddin had yet to explain how he could witness the launch of the first uncompleted LCS in 2017, complete with a fake RM400,000 mast, which was discarded immediately after the launching ceremony.

"Further, can Hishammuddin justify why not a single person has been charged in court for the LCS scandal despite a full array of investigations by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission?" he questioned.