Minister Gov T Ready To Face Lawsuit Over Helicopter Lease Cancellation

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The government is prepared to face a lawsuit filed by a company over the cancellation of a five-year lease for four US-made UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters.
Defence Minister Khaled Nordin said that legal action is a right for any party, but the government is also ready to defend itself through the proper channels.
"Anyone can sue the government, and the government will certainly challenge it," he said briefly after officiating the Civil Military Cooperation Carnival (Cimic) in conjunction with the 92nd Malaysian Armed Forces Day celebration at the Kuantan Air Base today.
Khaled’s remarks followed media reports about Aerotree Defence and Services Sdn Bhd, which filed a RM353 million lawsuit against the government, the Defence Ministry and its secretary-general, over the cancellation of the lease for the helicopters.
ADSThe lawsuit was filed in the Kuala Lumpur High Court through the legal firm Messrs Hafarizam, Wan Aisha & Mubarak.
In his speech, Khaled emphasised that the rapid advancement of technology and geopolitics requires a comprehensive approach involving both the government and society to tackle various security threats.
“This is why, in our country, we must ensure that national security and defence are not solely the responsibility of the armed forces but involve a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” he said.
Raising public awareness
Khaed added that events like Cimic are essential platforms for raising public awareness about the country's defence and security, and for encouraging individuals to contribute to national safety and peace.
“The purpose of Cimic is not just to showcase performances or exhibitions, but to inspire people to join the armed forces or volunteer.
“The public will play a crucial role, whether in urban or rural areas, to ensure the safety of the nation. Cimic also serves as an instrument for implementing the whole-of-government, whole-of-society concept," he said.
Cimic, a civil-military cooperation initiative by the Defence Ministry, is aimed at strengthening the concept of comprehensive defence through closer collaboration between the military and the people.
The carnival, which runs for two days until tomorrow at the Kuantan Air Base, includes dynamic demonstrations, military asset exhibitions from all three armed forces branches, and information booths about career opportunities in the armed forces.
- Bernama

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