Malaysia aims to produce military products, experts for global market
PEKAN: Malaysia aims to export its military products and local experts to international markets, starting this year.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said with the successful construction of military asset by DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd ( Deftech) here, he was confident that the military products and experts could be exported, especially to the Southeast Asian market.
“I think this is the best year for us to export military products to the Southeast Asian region and this can be done by making optimal use of Malaysia’s status as the Asean 2015 chairman.
“I’m also confident that our products are capable of penetrating international markets based on the keen interests showed by many countries, including at the recently concluded LIMA ( Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition) 2015.”
He said this to reporters after visiting the Deftech plant here yesterday.
Also present were DRB Hicom Group managing director Tan Sri Mohd Khamil Jamil and Deftech Group chief executive officer Amril Samsudin.
Meanwhile, Hishamuddin also lauded DRB Hicom’s efforts to produce more local experts to help build military assets at DEFTECH.
“This is an area where focus should be given. It’s not easy for us to build military assets, such as the AV8 Gempita, but our local experts have done it,” he said.
During the visit which lasted over an hour, Hishammuddin was also taken to the construction and installation sites for 257 units of Gempita, the 8x8 armoured vehicles, which would be handed over to the Army this year. — Bernama