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Daily Express
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
King warns against repeating past mistakes in military procurement
Published on: Saturday, August 16, 2025 Published on: Sat, Aug 16, 2025 By: Malay Mail Text Size: The King arrives at the event. – Pic via Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar | Facebook KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has directed the Defence Ministry to scrap plans to acquire ageing Black Hawk helicopters, warning against repeating past procurement mistakes that could jeopardise the safety of Malaysian Armed Forces personnel. Speaking at the 60th Anniversary Parade of the Rejimen Gerak Khas at Kem Iskandar in Mersing, Johor today, the King, as Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces, said the proposed helicopters were over 30 years old and unsuitable for service. 'Do not repeat the mistake we made when we bought second-hand SkyHawk aircraft. 'Do we want to put our pilots in a 'flying coffin'? Think about it yourselves,' Sultan Ibrahim said, according to a post on his official Facebook page. He also criticised the influence of middlemen and former generals in defence procurement. 'I believe this happens because the Defence Ministry is full of 'agents' or former generals who act as salesmen, and even some cloth-selling companies try to sell drones,' he added. Sultan Ibrahim stressed the importance of proper budgeting and warned against misleading claims in defence deals. 'If every purchase is done through middlemen, the allocated funds will never be enough. 'So do not try to mislead me. 'If you refuse to heed my advice, I will not intervene next time,' he said. The royal directive highlights the King's insistence on accountability, cost-effectiveness, and the safety of military personnel in defence procurement. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
G2G MOUs to avoid involvement of agents, middlemen in defence asset procurement, says Khaled
KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry is expanding cooperation between countries through the signing of Government-to-Government (G2G) Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) related to defence products, says its minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. He said the initiative aims to avoid the involvement of agents or middlemen in the procurement of national defence assets. "The Madani government remains consistent in its efforts to improve governance and ensure transparency, including in purchases of national defence assets," he said in a statement Saturday (Aug 16). During Saturday's 60th Anniversary Parade of Rejimen Gerak Khas (RGK) at Kem Iskandar in Mersing, Johor, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, issued 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 military personnel. The monarch emphasised that all parties involved in military procurement must ensure evaluations are conducted transparently, based on market prices and the actual needs of the armed forces, and not merely on the recommendations of agents or those with vested interests. Mohamed Khaled said the Defence Ministry upholds the King's decree and is committed to continuously adhering to the principles of accountability and integrity in the procurement of national defence assets. He said some of the immediate steps that had been taken and are being taken include strengthening the ministry's internal policies and procedures to ensure transparency, ethical compliance and strict guidelines. In addition, any new proposals will undergo a comprehensive study, involving the end user, namely the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), including aspects on suitability, lifespan, safety and the technology used. "Any procurement of defence assets is also made based on MAF requirements or user-driven," he said. Mohamed Khaled said that before confirming any procurement, a comprehensive assessment of the actual market price is made to ensure every ringgit spent is at the right price. - Bernama
The Star
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
King warns Mindef against buying 'flying coffins'
MERSING: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, issued 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 military personnel. His Majesty said the nation's experience in purchasing second-hand Skyhawk aircraft should serve as a lesson, as the planes could not be fully utilised. "Do not repeat the past mistake like when we bought second-hand Skyhawks… are we going to put our pilots in 'flying coffins'? Think for yourselves. "I believe all this happens because the Defence Ministry is full of agents or ex-generals turned salesmen, and even textile traders trying to sell drones,' said Sultan Ibrahim at the 60th Anniversary Parade of Rejimen Gerak Khas (RGK) at Kem Iskandar, here on Saturday (Aug 16). Also present were the Regent of Johor Tunku Mahkota Ismail and Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Sultan Ibrahim. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Malaysian Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, and Army Chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan were also in attendance. The A-4 Skyhawk, developed by McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing), was closely associated with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), which acquired 80 units from the United States in 1982 at US$1mil each, before retiring the fleet due to a high accident rate. Sultan Ibrahim, who is also Colonel Commandant of Gerup Gerak Khas (GGK), further advised the Defence Minister to cancel the proposed purchase of Black Hawk helicopters that are over 30 years old, out of concern that the same mistake would be repeated. The monarch emphasised that all parties involved in military procurement must ensure evaluations are conducted transparently, based on market prices and the actual needs of the armed forces, and not merely on the recommendations of agents or vested interests. "Do not waste time buying nonsense that does not fit the needs of the military. If you don't know the price, ask me first. "Five years ago, I pointed out the purchase of rigid raiding craft for the commandos at RM5mil, when I could have sourced a better boat for under RM2mil. "Recently, I heard there was a proposal to buy a similar boat but in a larger size, at nearly RM10mil. This makes no sense and must be carefully reviewed,' Sultan Ibrahim said. His Majesty stressed that if all asset purchases are made at inflated 'middleman' prices, then government allocations will never be sufficient. "Therefore, do not try to fool me. If you do not want to heed my advice, I will not speak up again,' His Majesty said. In addition to highlighting the need for price transparency, Sultan Ibrahim also criticised the delay in the combat diving pool project at RGK Camp, which was supposed to be completed in 2022 but is still not operational. At the same time, His Majesty urged the government to prioritise the acquisition of new equipment to ensure RGK's readiness remains at the highest level, enabling swift response to any threat. The parade was held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the RGK's establishment and to honour the services and sacrifices of this elite unit's warriors in defending the nation's sovereignty. - Bernama
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
King warns MINDEF against buying ‘flying coffins'
MERSING: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today issued a stern reminder to the Ministry of Defence not to repeat past mistakes in the procurement of military assets, particularly used aircraft that could endanger the lives of pilots and military personnel. His Majesty said the nation's experience in purchasing second-hand Skyhawk aircraft should serve as a lesson, as the planes could not be fully utilised. 'Do not repeat the past mistake like when we bought second-hand Skyhawks... are we going to put our pilots in 'flying coffins'? Think for yourselves. 'I believe all this happens because the Ministry of Defence is full of agents or ex-generals turned salesmen, and even textile traders trying to sell drones,' said Sultan Ibrahim at the 60th Anniversary Parade of Rejimen Gerak Khas (RGK) at Kem Iskandar, here. Also present were the Regent of Johor Tunku Mahkota Ismail and Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Sultan Ibrahim. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Malaysian Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, and Army Chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan were also in attendance. MERSING, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today issued a stern reminder to the Ministry of Defence not to repeat past mistakes in the procurement of military assets, particularly used aircraft that could endanger the lives of pilots and military personnel. His Majesty said the nation's experience in purchasing second-hand Skyhawk aircraft should serve as a lesson, as the planes could not be fully utilised. 'Do not repeat the past mistake like when we bought second-hand Skyhawks... are we going to put our pilots in 'flying coffins'? Think for yourselves. 'I believe all this happens because the Ministry of Defence is full of agents or ex-generals turned salesmen, and even textile traders trying to sell drones,' said Sultan Ibrahim at the 60th Anniversary Parade of Rejimen Gerak Khas (RGK) at Kem Iskandar, here. Also present were the Regent of Johor Tunku Mahkota Ismail and Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Sultan Ibrahim. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Malaysian Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, and Army Chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan were also in attendance. The A-4 Skyhawk, developed by McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing), was closely associated with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), which acquired 80 units from the United States in 1982 at US$1 million each, before retiring the fleet due to a high accident rate. Sultan Ibrahim, who is also Colonel Commandant of Gerup Gerak Khas (GGK), further advised the Defence Minister to cancel the proposed purchase of Black Hawk helicopters that are over 30 years old, out of concern that the same mistake would be repeated. The monarch emphasised that all parties involved in military procurement must ensure evaluations are conducted transparently, based on market prices and the actual needs of the armed forces, and not merely on the recommendations of agents or vested interests. 'Do not waste time buying nonsense that does not fit the needs of the military. If you don't know the price, ask me first. 'Five years ago, I pointed out the purchase of rigid raiding craft for the commandos at RM5 million, when I could have sourced a better boat for under RM2 million. 'Recently, I heard there was a proposal to buy a similar boat but in a larger size, at nearly RM10 million. This makes no sense and must be carefully reviewed,' Sultan Ibrahim said. His Majesty stressed that if all asset purchases are made at inflated 'middleman' prices, then government allocations will never be sufficient. 'Therefore, do not try to fool me. If you do not want to heed my advice, I will not speak up again,' His Majesty said. In addition to highlighting the need for price transparency, Sultan Ibrahim also criticised the delay in the combat diving pool project at RGK Camp, which was supposed to be completed in 2022 but is still not operational. At the same time, His Majesty urged the government to prioritise the acquisition of new equipment to ensure RGK's readiness remains at the highest level, enabling swift response to any threat. The parade was held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the RGK's establishment and to honour the services and sacrifices of this elite unit's warriors in defending the nation's sovereignty. The A-4 Skyhawk, developed by McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing), was closely associated with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), which acquired 80 units from the United States in 1982 at US$1 million each, before retiring the fleet due to a high accident rate. Sultan Ibrahim, who is also Colonel Commandant of Gerup Gerak Khas (GGK), further advised the Defence Minister to cancel the proposed purchase of Black Hawk helicopters that are over 30 years old, out of concern that the same mistake would be repeated. The monarch emphasised that all parties involved in military procurement must ensure evaluations are conducted transparently, based on market prices and the actual needs of the armed forces, and not merely on the recommendations of agents or vested interests. 'Do not waste time buying nonsense that does not fit the needs of the military. If you don't know the price, ask me first. 'Five years ago, I pointed out the purchase of rigid raiding craft for the commandos at RM5 million, when I could have sourced a better boat for under RM2 million. 'Recently, I heard there was a proposal to buy a similar boat but in a larger size, at nearly RM10 million. This makes no sense and must be carefully reviewed,' Sultan Ibrahim said. His Majesty stressed that if all asset purchases are made at inflated 'middleman' prices, then government allocations will never be sufficient. 'Therefore, do not try to fool me. If you do not want to heed my advice, I will not speak up again,' His Majesty said. In addition to highlighting the need for price transparency, Sultan Ibrahim also criticised the delay in the combat diving pool project at RGK Camp, which was supposed to be completed in 2022 but is still not operational. At the same time, His Majesty urged the government to prioritise the acquisition of new equipment to ensure RGK's readiness remains at the highest level, enabling swift response to any threat. The parade was held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the RGK's establishment and to honour the services and sacrifices of this elite unit's warriors in defending the nation's sovereignty. - Bernama
Barnama
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Barnama
King Warns MINDEF Against Buying 'Flying Coffins'
GENERAL His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim at the 60th Anniversary Parade of Rejimen Gerak Khas (RGK) at Kem Iskandar, Mersing today. His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim at the 60th Anniversary Parade of Rejimen Gerak Khas (RGK) at Kem Iskandar, Mersing today. His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim at the 60th Anniversary Parade of Rejimen Gerak Khas (RGK) at Kem Iskandar, Mersing today. MERSING, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today issued a stern reminder to the Ministry of Defence not to repeat past mistakes in the procurement of military assets, particularly used aircraft that could endanger the lives of pilots and military personnel. His Majesty said the nation's experience in purchasing second-hand Skyhawk aircraft should serve as a lesson, as the planes could not be fully utilised. 'Do not repeat the past mistake like when we bought second-hand Skyhawks… are we going to put our pilots in 'flying coffins'? Think for yourselves. 'I believe all this happens because the Ministry of Defence is full of agents or ex-generals turned salesmen, and even textile traders trying to sell drones,' said Sultan Ibrahim at the 60th Anniversary Parade of Rejimen Gerak Khas (RGK) at Kem Iskandar, here. Also present were the Regent of Johor Tunku Mahkota Ismail and Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Sultan Ibrahim. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Malaysian Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, and Army Chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan were also in attendance. The A-4 Skyhawk, developed by McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing), was closely associated with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), which acquired 80 units from the United States in 1982 at US$1 million each, before retiring the fleet due to a high accident rate. Sultan Ibrahim, who is also Colonel Commandant of Gerup Gerak Khas (GGK), further advised the Defence Minister to cancel the proposed purchase of Black Hawk helicopters that are over 30 years old, out of concern that the same mistake would be repeated. The monarch emphasised that all parties involved in military procurement must ensure evaluations are conducted transparently, based on market prices and the actual needs of the armed forces, and not merely on the recommendations of agents or vested interests.
