Mindef lodges report with MACC over purchase of helicopters
Thursday, 13 Jun 20195:09 PM MYT
An Afghan Air Force MD-530F helicopter during a media demonstration on April 9, 2015, at a training range outside of Kabul, Afghanistan. – US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt Perry Aston/Released
PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): The Defence Ministry has lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the purchase of six helicopters worth more than RM300mil in 2015, which has yet to be received by the Malaysian Armed Forces to date.
The report was filed by the ministry's representative at the MACC headquarters here on Thursday (June 13).
According to a ministry source, the McDonnell Douglas MD530G lightweight combat helicopters were supposed to be received in two phases – two in July 2017, and the rest in December 2018.
The source said the terms of the purchase agreement did not safeguard the interests of the government, which included clauses such as 'the contract is valid for two years, or, until the local company appointed as the agent successfully delivers the helicopters.'
"The contract was done via direct negotiation with the agency, while many terms of the contract were not favourable to the government. For example, the contract was approved without any military specifications, a mandatory requirement in the purchase of military assets," the source said.
He said McDonnell Douglas had also cancelled the local company's contract as its agent in Malaysia by the time the helicopter purchase agreement was signed.
The source added the Malaysian government had already paid RM112.65mil, which was 35% of the total cost of the acquisition, to the company. – Bernama
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/06/13/mindef-lodges-report-with-macc-over-purchase-of-helicopters/#6rb3rOlHvxGHVvu6.99
