Wednesday July 21, 2004

China offers to transfer missile technology

BY NICK LEONG

KUALA LUMPUR: China has offered to transfer its expertise in very short-range air defence missile systems (V-SHORADS), said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He said the transfer of technology would be linked to other factors currently being considered by the Government.

“We have basically reached a principal agreement to acquire the technology from China but it is not a purchase yet because the Government is still considering the details,” he told reporters after witnessing a signing ceremony between SME Ordnance Sdn Bhd, Aneka Bekal Sdn Bhd and China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CPMIEC) here yesterday.

SOMETHING SPECIAL: Najib receiving a gift from CPMIEC president Prof Wang Bingyan after he witnessed the signing ceremony between SME Ordnance Sdn Bhd, Aneka Bekal Sdn Bhd and CPMIEC yesterday as army chief Datuk Mohd Azumi Mohamed looks on. — Bernamapic

CPMIEC and Aneka Bekal has signed a memorandum of understanding for the transfer of technology of the shoulder launched V-SHORADS, model FN-6, during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s visit to China in May.

The FN-6 has been regarded as among the best in the world. It has a range of up to 6km and equipped with anti-infrared decoy interference capabilities.

Najib, who is also Defence Minister, said several countries had also offered to transfer their technologies to Malaysia.

On when the Government would decide on the offer, Najib said any decisions would have to be included in the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Earlier when opening a conference on occupational safety and health organised by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Najib said occupational accidents could be prevented by prudent and cautious work practices.

He said the country’s rate of 7.4 accidents for every one thousand workers was unacceptable.

“Although accidents can and do happen, there are various measures that we can adopt to limit their occurrence,” he said.

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