Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Nov 28) that the leasing of helicopters is a more transparent process and avoids the financial burden of maintenance costs.
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NewsTranscript
00:00But I agree with the Red Army that, at that time, it was only linked to the Malaysian Army.
00:08But in the latest development, I did this.
00:13One, we want the rounds to be smooth, involving government to government,
00:21and not through any agents.
00:25Rather than each of them using an agent or a broker,
00:31we should gather all of them so that the cost is more manageable.
00:34So this is the first thing.
00:36In fact, the Italian Prime Minister in Rio de Janeiro said that
00:44the Italian government, which has more than 30% shares in Leonardo,
00:50will provide guarantees so that the government will provide all the cooperation.
00:55Because in this form of leasing,
00:59it will avoid our burden in terms of maintenance,
01:07which is a big problem right now.
01:10One billion ringgit a year for the need for maintenance materials,
01:15and the damage will happen again.
01:18That's why I agree to continue the previous leasing decision,
01:23but we will expand it.
01:25But it is not a direct negotiation,
01:30because we made a request for proposal.
01:33And the RFP, under the cooperation of the private sector,
01:37which is then supervised by the agency,
01:41asks all companies that are involved,
01:44the four main ones,
01:45who can meet the requirements,
01:47and those who are only able to afford it,
01:50those who have AA Operating Certificate,
01:54those who have AOC,
01:56four of those four,
01:58then WESTA Aviation Services will be selected,
02:02which will present the offer through this RFP.
02:07Currently, WESTA already has 28 helicopters with Leonardo,
02:13from the previous contract,
02:15and tens of contracts with Saudi,
02:20using the existing experience.
02:24This is the reason why we continue,
02:28but our condition is to gather all the needs in the country,
02:36and prepare Malaysia as a hub.
02:43It is currently in Italy,
02:46in Miami,
02:47and the third is in Malaysia.
02:49Maybe it will be chosen in Melaka,
02:51because it is close to Batu Berendam airport,
02:54which we agreed to be a training center for Leonardo helicopters.
03:05The company that was chosen is Yambo Mat.
03:10The company that was chosen is Yambo Mat,
03:16and even before that.
03:18And the specifications are correct.
03:19Yambo Mat's comment is correct.
03:21The specifications are determined by the bodies,
03:26or TLDM, TUDM, according to their needs.
03:30If you ask me,
03:32this is more straightforward.
03:36We do it G2G.
03:38No agents.
03:40Direct.
03:42Give the company what they want.
03:44And of course, we give the main company, the state company.
03:47I do not agree with the issue of buying weapons.
03:51We have announced this as much as we can.
03:56But what is the special feature of each helicopter,
04:00for TUDM or TLDM,
04:02I do not think it can be explained by the parliament.
04:06That's my opinion.
04:08If it is necessary, Yambo Mat,
04:12ask the Minister of Defense or the Minister of the Interior
04:15to re-examine what can be conveyed.
04:17But I do not think it is fair for the safety of the country
04:23to discuss in detail about the specifications,
04:27needs and strengths of our military equipment.