Helicopters to replace Nuri not finalized yet, Eurocopter not considered

According to Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad, the Deputy Defence Minister, the government has yet to decide on the purchase of new helicopters to replace the ageing Nuris and that the ministry is still considering the capabilities of helicopters which can search and rescue. He was replying to Mohd Nizar Zakaria, the BN representative of Parit who wanted to know if the defence system in the country is up to date. Abdul Latiff said "We will look into various aspects including the country's economic situation so that the acquisition will be within our means," in his reply to Dr Tan Seng Giaw, the DAP representative of Kepong, Abdul Lattiff said “The current 20 Nuri helicopters could continue operating until 2015 as they were regularly maintained. 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,"

It was reported last year that the Defence Ministry, which was then under the administration of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi were to purchase some 12 Eurocopter EC725 totaling to RM1.6billiong but was then deferred after it hit some protests for the choice.

comments

Wah, Zahidi must be smiling and grinning as there is gonna be a big ang pow soon!

Zahid and Najib must be busy locating a more costly helicopter to satisfy their needs and other(UMNO) partners involved while trying to create a better reasoning for a bigger buy/allocation.