Boeing aircraft deal follows established procedures, says Kamil Munim

THE purchase of new Boeing aircraft by Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has been carried out in full compliance with standard procedures and the agreed terms, according to Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, Political Secretary to the Minister of Finance (MOF).

Responding to opposition allegations, Kamil Munim, who is the political secretary for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (who is also the Minister for Finance), rejected claims that the deal was motivated by any personal or political interests.

He stressed that the acquisition process, which has been ongoing for some time, is in line with the approach adopted by the previous administration.

"The aircraft procurement process is complex and involves careful coordination, including price negotiations," Bernama reported him saying.

"The agreement was only recently finalised with the approval of all parties concerned. This is a continuation of our strategy of using Boeing aircraft, so there is no issue here.

“The suggestion that this purchase is linked to facilitating a meeting between the Prime Minister and the President of the United States is completely baseless."

His remarks followed comments from Gerakan President Datuk Dr Dominic Lau, who speculated that the purchase of 30 American-built aircraft might be part of a broader diplomatic effort to enable Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to meet US President Donald Trump.

On 22 March, Minister for Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, clarified that the aircraft purchase was a strategic investment aimed at strengthening Malaysia's position as a prominent player in the global aviation sector.

Tengku Zafrul further pointed out that the deal would also benefit Boeing Composites Malaysia (BCM), which manufactures key aircraft components in Malaysia and provides employment for approximately 1,000 local workers.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Kamil attributed weak governance as the primary reason why the four opposition-led states, collectively known as 'State-Government 4' (SG4), have struggled to attract significant investment and experience robust economic growth.

He said there is no valid reason for any party to blame the federal government for the slow economic progress in these states, as substantial assistance in the form of financial support and infrastructure development has already been provided.

"Despite the federal government's efforts, which include funding and infrastructure development, the sluggish pace of economic growth cannot be attributed to the federal government," Bernama cited Kamil Munim saying.

"For example, the RM500 Special Aidilfitri Financial Assistance (BKKA) was granted to more than 14,000 civil servants in Terengganu, as announced by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) yesterday."

The Ministry of Finance issued a statement confirming that the assistance was provided following Anwar’s visit to Terengganu on 21 March.

Kamil Munim also pointed out that Kelantan’s Menteri Besar had recently met with the Prime Minister to request assistance in expediting the flood mitigation projects in the state.

"The allocation from the federal government to these four states has been increased, so the notion that opposition-ruled states are being sidelined is unfounded," he remarked during the Iftar Perdana and MADANI Aidilfitri contributions event at Arena Square in the Al-Hadhari Mosque.

His comments were made in response to claims by Perikatan Nasional (PN) Youth Chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden, who argued that while economic growth in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis has seen consistent yearly increases, the states lack adequate support from the federal government, particularly in terms of attracting investors.

Kamil Munim stated that the SG4 governments must also take responsibility for addressing critical local issues, such as flooding, which directly affect investor confidence.

"For example, the flood problem is a significant issue that impacts all sectors of society. If this problem persists, it will inevitably undermine investor confidence in these states," he added - March 26, 2025