9 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Reveal value of airbase calibration job, says MP
Former deputy defence minister Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz also urged the defence ministry to disclose if any penalty had been imposed on the company that failed to deliver four Black Hawk helicopters. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : A former deputy defence minister has called on the government to reveal the value of a new contract awarded to a firm which failed to supply four Black Hawk helicopters for the military last year.
Tanah Merah MP Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz said the defence ministry should explain the rationale for awarding the contract involving three military air bases to Aerotree Defence and Services Sdn Bhd.
Ikmal said, if true, it would be an 'unhealthy' culture in terms of defence asset procurement.
'The government must reveal the value of the contract in line with the principle of transparency. All the more since this is the same company that failed to supply the much-needed Black Hawk helicopters,' the Bersatu MP told FMT.
On Wednesday, FMT reported that Aerotree had been awarded a contract to calibrate the instrument landing system equipment for fixed-wing aircraft at three military air bases.
This came eight months after the defence ministry cancelled a RM187 million Black Hawk lease contract it signed with the firm after it failed to deliver the aircraft despite three date revisions.
The four helicopters, leased for five years, were intended to serve as a platform for the army's Air Team Nucleus, supporting both training and operational flight missions.
Ikmal, who chairs Perikatan Nasional's defence bureau, urged the defence ministry to disclose if any penalty had been imposed on the company for failing to deliver the helicopters.
He said the public deserved to know the company's track record in military procurement and defence facility development, especially in light of its failure in the previous deal.
FMT has reached out to the defence ministry for comment.
