The Prime Minister-cum-Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should set an example of integrity and transparency by making public the details of the shortlisted bids for the four aircrafts to replace the RMAF Nuri helicopters and the reason why Eurocopter’s Cougar EC725 has been selected.
It is a sad commentary on the failure of Abdullah’s National Integrity Plan that Malaysia’s latest ranking on the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index has plunged 10 places in his five years as Prime Minister from No. 37 in 2003 to No. 47 in 2008 and a deepening crisis of confidence about integrity and transparency.
Abdullah should be aware that his first act as Defence Minister, announcing that the Defence Ministry has agreed to acquire new helicopters from European helicopter manufacturers, Eurocopter, to replace the Nuri has been immediately dogged by integrity and transparency questions – in particular, the allegation about the involvement of his son Kamaluddin Abdullah in the Eurocopter deal.
It is for this reason that Abdullah should make public the details of the shortlisted bids by the four aircrafts to replace the RMAF Nuri helicopters and the reason why Eurocopter’s Cougar EC725 has been selected.
If no full explanation is forthcoming from Abdullah, I will be raising this issue in Parliament when it reconvenes on October 13.
The Eurocopter Cougar EC725 was one of four aircraft shortlisted by RMAF. The other three were the Sikorsky S92, Agusta Westland EH-101 Merlin and the Russian-made Mil Mi-17 Hip.
It has been reported that the government had allocated US$600 million (RM1.93 billion) to buy an initial fleet of 12 helicopters, which will be in service until 2050.
#1 by pakmang on Sunday, 5 October 2008 - 1:07 pm
Just swapping of portfolio DSAB and cronies could make so much $$$, wow, I think they will arrange to swap their portfolio more frequent this case…..ha2….
#2 by Godfather on Sunday, 5 October 2008 - 1:10 pm
What’s the difference between this deal and the recent Maybank purchase of Bank Internasional Indonesia at a whopping 4.6 times book or the announced construction of the Murun Dam in Sarawak ?
The commonality in all these cases is that BN cronies stand to gain from deals that are UNNECESSARY in today’s uncertain global economic climate.
#3 by waterfrontcoolie on Sunday, 5 October 2008 - 1:27 pm
YB., surely you can find out the cost of such machine and do an apple to apple comparison. I suppose just like cars being sold overseas, you can have a choice of added items. In today’s world unless open tenders are practised, under-counter arrangements will be the order of the day!.
If Mayban’s offer for the Indo Bank is way above ‘normal’ ratio, thenthe Bank Management should at least explain the basis of its decision! Likewise, ABB being the Menteri Pertahanan owes Malaysians an ‘open’ explanation for the decision!!
#4 by LBJ on Sunday, 5 October 2008 - 1:55 pm
It will be up to YB LIm and his PR colleagues in Parliament to scrutinise the terms of the purchase to see that these are fair and that there are no leakages. Maybe they should get PAC to audit the purchase before the contract is signed rather than after contract signing. The goverment should come out to be transparent and accountable. The choice for the Eurocopter Couger is a good one. Therefore there is no reason why this should not be done/
#5 by biggun on Sunday, 5 October 2008 - 3:14 pm
Good Choice to purchase at the right price, we call it value for money, if Indian’s rupee can buy more units of Eurocopter at the same price like us, why don’t convert Malaysian ringgit into Indian’s rupee?
#6 by badak on Sunday, 5 October 2008 - 3:51 pm
Even the pirates can get weapons cheaper then us.But then again we have pirates in the UMNO led BN Government.With the world wide web.We can get the actual cost of the HELI.Yet the UMNO led BN Government still thinks that we stupid.
#7 by OCSunny on Sunday, 5 October 2008 - 6:59 pm
EVERYONE HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT NAJIB IS SUPPOSED TO HEAD THE INVESTIGATION ON THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ISSUES IN SABAH. AFTER SO MANY MONTHS, WHAT IS THE OUTCOME OF THE PROBES? NOW WE ARE HEARING ABOUT A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM … ILLIGAL IMMIGRANTS WITH MYCARD !?! IS NAJIB ALSO RESPONSIBLE TO LOOK INTO THIS AS WELL?????
THE PEOPLE OF SABAH ARE PLAIN STUPID TO ALLOW THE ABOVE TO DETERIORATE TO SUCH AN UNHEALTHY STAGE !!!!
#8 by zak_hammaad on Sunday, 5 October 2008 - 9:45 pm
It’s a pretty darn good manufacturer though: eurocopter.co.uk
#9 by undergrad2 on Monday, 6 October 2008 - 3:07 am
There are ‘sweeteners’ thrown into the deal – like always. We would like to know what these are and who gets them.
#10 by alancheong7 on Monday, 6 October 2008 - 9:57 am
Good!
But Kit, you either need a proof reader or an editor:
“the details of the shortlisted bids by the four aircrafts”
Aircraft doing the bidding or bidding for aircraft, please?
[Thanks Alan. I confess having computer reading problem. Discerning blog visitors should have discovered many proof-reading mistakes. I need your help to point them out to me. - Kit]
#11 by cazz on Monday, 6 October 2008 - 6:41 pm
http://www.avtoday.com/rw/commercial/offshore/1733.html
According to the above article (9th paragraph), each Eurocopter Cougar EC725 cost roughly 33million Eur, assuming the rotorcraft is equip with customized military equipment.
33 mil Eur will be equivalent to USD44.86m.
If the RMAF was to acquire a fleet of 12 choppers, aren’t we entitled to some good discount? Mind you, 12 choppers is only an initial purchase. Instead of getting discount, we are paying some USD5mil plus more for each chopper. And just what kind of customized military equipment are we fixing on the rotocrafts anyway to take the choppers price tag to its highest chargeable figure?
Fello Malaysians, it is pretty plain to see isn’t it? Another PM from UMNO and his crony is sucking our blood again.
#12 by Godfather on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 9:36 am
“The military EC725 can cost in excess of 20 million euros because of the need for specialized equipment, he said.”
In excess of 20 million Euros usually means 21, 22, or 23 million Euros, so where does the 33 million Euros come in ?
#13 by cazz on Monday, 13 October 2008 - 7:08 pm
Gotfather,
You are right, i read it again, it does say “in excess”, not “in addition”.
My apology.
That makes our BN government look even uglier.
#14 by cazz on Monday, 13 October 2008 - 7:18 pm
BN government plan to spill USD50m per chopper.