THE Defence Ministry is enhancing international cooperation through the signing of Government-to-Government (G2G) Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on defence products, says Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
He said the initiative is aimed at eliminating the involvement of agents or middlemen in the procurement of national defence assets.
"The Madani government remains consistent in its efforts to strengthen governance and ensure transparency, including in the procurement of national defence assets," he said in a statement as reported by Bernama.
Yesterday, at the 60th Anniversary Parade of the Rejimen Gerak Khas (RGK) at Kem Iskandar in Mersing, Johor, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, delivered a stern reminder to the Defence Ministry not to repeat past mistakes in the procurement of military assets, particularly used aircraft that could endanger the lives of pilots and personnel.
The King stressed that all parties involved in procurement must ensure evaluations are conducted transparently, based on actual market value and the operational needs of the armed forces, and not merely on the recommendations of agents or vested interests.
Khaled said the ministry fully upheld the King's decree and remains committed to accountability and integrity in all defence acquisitions.
He added that immediate steps had already been taken, including the strengthening of internal policies and procedures to ensure transparency, ethical compliance and strict adherence to procurement guidelines.
Furthermore, he said, all new proposals will undergo a thorough evaluation involving the end user — the armed forces — covering factors such as suitability, lifespan, safety and technology.
"Procurement of defence assets is always driven by the requirements of the army," he said.
Mohamed Khaled also said that before any procurement was finalised, a comprehensive assessment of the actual market price would be conducted to ensure that every ringgit is spent wisely. – August 17, 2025
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