Defence Procurement Must Be Needs Based Says Pm

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Anwar Ibrahim says the procurement must also be based on the armed forces' expertise, and not dictated by agents, external companies or politicians.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said this year’s allocation for the defence ministry is the highest ever, so everyone is responsible for ensuring that the spending is fully transparent, proper and accountable.SANDAKAN: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stressed that the procurement of national defence assets must be carried out transparently, prudently and based on clear priorities and genuine needs
He said that priorities in any procurement should be determined by the actual requirements and expertise within the armed forces, rather than by external parties.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the lack of need-based planning and professional expertise previously led to various issues, including major naval procurement scandals and delays in projects.
“This procurement system must be corrected. I am not the one deciding what should be bought. That is the armed forces’ expertise.
“However, procurement priorities must be based on real needs and expertise, not dictated by agents, external companies or politicians.
“This year’s allocation for the defence ministry is the highest ever, so everyone is responsible for ensuring that the spending is fully transparent, proper and accountable, because this is taxpayers’ money,” he said at the Wira Samudera breakfast event at the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Region 2 base here today.
Also present were Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor, chief of defence forces Nizam Jaffar and deputy navy chief Shamsuddin Ludin.
The prime minister said the misappropriation of funds must stop and financial management must be conducted prudently.
He stressed that there should be no compromise in matters of national security, adding that defence assets must always be maintained at optimum readiness.
“We want the armed forces to be strong, with new ships and new aircraft. I mention this not for war, but to safeguard the country’s security. And for peacekeeping efforts, if there is tension, we can act immediately, such as in the Thailand-Cambodia issue, which demonstrated our military’s strategic acumen,” he said.
Anwar said the government will continue to elevate and honour the nation’s defence sector, including ensuring the welfare of defence personnel. - FMT

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