SHAH ALAM: Physical assessment and price negotiations for the procurement of 36 light combat aircraft (LCA) have been completed and submitted to the Finance Ministry, says Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
The Defence Minister said the full report regarding the acquisition of the assets had been received by his ministry.
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"Price negotiations with the self-recommended tenderer with the 'end user', which is the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), has been completed. We are now waiting for the Finance Ministry's decision.
"This is my promise to RMAF, we really need these LCA and I believe that there will be no problem if we use the previous method where assets are determined by the 'end user'," he told reporters attending the Beret Wearing and Handover of the Malaysian Flag ceremony in conjunction with the send-off of the Malaysian Battalion peacekeeping force (Malbatt 850-10) to Lebanon.
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Also present were Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Muez Abd Aziz and Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Affandi Buang.
Commenting on the lack of evaluation visits raised by tenderers, Hishammuddin said matters like this will be raised especially in the run-up to the 15th General Election (GE15).
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"If you want to find fault, you will find that all assets and processes can be disputed.
"If you want to make accusations, you need to include evidence. If it's wrong, give the evidence to the relevant agencies so they can investigate," he said.
Previously, a total of eight international companies were reported to have bid for the tender to supply 36 LCA jets.
The open tender was launched by the Defence Ministry from June 22 to Sept 22 last year.
The procurement would replace five BAE System Hawk Mk 108 two-seater LCA jets and 13 British-made single-seater Mk 208 jets that have been used for more than a decade.
It also involves the replacement of seven Italian-made Aermacchi MB-339CM fighter training jets (FLIT) that are currently stationed in Penang.
