RM17.8b WORTH OF DEALS INKED IN DSA 2018
Deals show the govt’s readiness to optimise national security, says Hisham
THE government, through the Home and Defence ministries, inked eight contracts, three memoranda of understanding (MoUs), 11 letters of acceptances and a letter worth RM17.8 billion.
The deals took place at the International Exhibition of National Security for Asia (Natsec 2018), held in conjunction with Defence Services Asia 2018 (DSA 2018) here yesterday.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the deals indicated the government’s readiness to allocate funds to optimise national security, as well as its continuous commitment to protect the country’s sovereignty.
“Most of the contracts were contributed by six offset programmes, which were valued at RM14.4 billion,” he said here.
“These programmes are the best alternative approach for a heightened national defence capacity, where the Defence Ministry obtains the latest advanced defence technology from renowned defence economies, as well as technology and knowledge transfer to local industries in creating engineering competencies to reduce reliance on original equipment manufacturers,” he said.
Two MoUs were inked between the Defence Ministry and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) to create competent army personnel, which involves 165 UPNM officers and 45 UKM officers.
He said these signings were due to the continuing camaraderie between the Defence and Home ministries following the success in executing several National Blue Ocean Strategy programmes.
In conjunction with the event, the Japanese and Malaysian governments also signed an agreement on defence equipment and technology transfer. Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Makio Miyagawa represented Japan while Malaysia was represented by Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi.
The agreement entailed the establishment a legal framework for both governments on defence equipment and technology handling to implement projects, and to contribute to international peace and stability.
Hishammuddin said politics should not influence the security, stability and standing of countries in the Asean region. He said global security outweighed political issues and should not be taken lightly.
“Many things that we do concerning security is dependent on the network of the major defence industry players,” he said, adding that it involved many parties.
“It is connected to diplomatic ties between the defence ministers of other countries.
“With the nearing 14th General Election, our friends are hoping to see a bigger agenda that goes beyond politics.”
He said the presence of Asean defence ministers and their delegates at the DSA Natsec edition this time proved that defence industry players were not easily influenced by the seasonal politics of certain parties.
At the event, Hishammuddin announced the organisation of DSA 2020 and Natsec Asia 2020 to be held from April 20 to 23, 2020 in Kuala Lumpur.
The four-day exhibition, which began on Monday, is expected to attract 40,000 visitors and provide the platform of defence and security management throughout the world to exchange ideas, while giving industry players the opportunity to market their products.