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This article was printed from Sun2Surf
Article's URL: http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=40097
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Purchase of choppers not finalised
By: (Wed, 11 Nov 2009)
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Eurocopter EC 725
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KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 11, 2009) : The government has not made any final decision on the purchase of utility helicopters to replace the ageing Nuri, Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said.
He said the purchase of helicopters with search and rescue capabilities was still being considered.
"We will look into various aspects including the country's economic situation so that the acquisition will be within our means," he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to Mohd Nizar Zakaria (BN-Parit), who wanted to know the measures taken by the government to ensure that the defence system was up-to-date, and the status of the purchase of helicopter to replace the Nuri.
In September last year, the Defence Ministry agreed to buy 12 Eurocopter EC 725 helicopters worth RM1.6 billion.
However, the defence minister at that time, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was also the prime minister, decided to defer the purchase following controversy over the choice of the EC 725.
Replying to Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong), Abdul Latiff said the 20 Nuri helicopters could continue operating until 2015 as they were regularly maintained.
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Abdul Latiff Ahmad
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Tan Seng Giaw
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"The government is aware that the Nuri helicopters have limited capacity to mount search and rescue operations especially at night. But they are well-maintained and are airworthy until 2015. So there is really no hurry," he said.
To Dr Tan's another question on whether the government would allow former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) secretary-general, Chin Peng, to return to Malaysia, Abdul Latiff said Chin Peng was still considered a threat to the country.
"This is because during the signing of the peace accord with the CPM in 1989, he did not sign the agreement to lay down arms.
"Only the CPM agreed to do so and not Chin Peng. Until now he is still listed as the country's enemy," he said. -- Bernama
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