NEW YORK – Malaysia has reached a principled agreement with Türkiye for provisions of military equipment to be made through proper professional and transparent means without any undue interferences.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this is in line with a procurement policy that his administration has put in place to ensure matters involving such purchases are decided on by the leadership of the Armed Forces itself.
Speaking to journalists after a bilateral meeting with Türkiye president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in New York, he explained that the decision was made to avoid problems faced in the past on matters of military-related purchases.
“We agreed on the matter of military equipment supply – (that it should be) as what is decided by the leadership of the Malaysian Armed Forces Council,” Anwar said at the office of Malaysia’s permanent mission to the UN in New York.
The meeting with Erdoğan was held earlier at Türkiye’s permanent mission located opposite the UN headquarters.
“There is a deficit as far as we are concerned in terms of our defence capability because, as you know, we had encountered serious problems in terms of a proper, professional and transparent procurement policy,” Anwar said.
He noted that Malaysia has confirmed purchases such as planes for the air force from South Korea, and drones and helicopters from Türkiye.
He said it is important for the Armed Forces Council to be the decision maker in this regard as its leaders have the expertise.
“We leave it to the military personnel – navy, air force (and army) to decide what is best,” he said, stressing that they are given full ambit in areas where they have high-level specialisation and expertise.
“My policy, as I told the joint chief of staff, is that we do not want any interference in terms of what to procure. This has to be decided on professionally by the (armed) forces,” he added.
Anwar said that it would then be up to the Ministry of Defence to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to engage with the government of the relevant country supplying the equipment to cut any “unnecessary waste” on agents and red tape.
Anwar had in late July directed the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) to revamp its asset procurement system to ensure outside parties could no longer rake in excessive commissions.
He had said that the revamp was needed as the preparedness of the country’s defence assets, such as ships, aircraft and tanks, was not coordinated and not in line with Malaysia’s geopolitical and strategic position.
Turkish confidence in MAHB
On another issue, Erdoğan’s administration has agreed for Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to continue to manage and further develop the Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul.
The airport, a fully owned Malaysia Airports asset in Turkey, is the smaller of Istanbul’s two airports.
Anwar said the Turkish government is satisfied with MAHB’s work and would in fact like to see it continue along with a longer runway.
“They feel that it can continue to be pursued by the same company (MAHB),” he said.
“I am very satisfied because he (Erdoğan) has given full support and confidence to a Malaysian company to manage and develop the Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.”
Another issue discussed by the two leaders was on cooperating to counter “white-skin racism” towards people of colour, as well as countering xenophobia where one elevates one’s own culture above the interests of others.
The two leaders also expressed concern about Islamophobia, Anwar said. He added Turkey is activating its centres in Europe and Middle East on this matter, while Malaysia focuses on this in the Asian region.
Both leaders also discussed issues related to the fields of education and culture, he added.
Erdoğan agreed to make a formal visit to Malaysia at the end of the year.
“We will ensure that the date is suitable and takes place when the Yang diPertuan Agong is present in the country,” Anwar said. – The Vibes, September 21, 2023
