Intellasia News Services -- Malaysia asks US firms not to sell old defence equipment

Malaysia asks US firms not to sell old defence equipment
Source: 18-MAR-2010 Intellasia | The Malaysian Insider
18 Mar, 2010 - 7:04:00 AM
The Defence Ministry has asked United States defence equipment companies not to market old equipment to Malaysia and in the Asean region.

Defence minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the request was among three points he stressed in a dialogue with the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) and the US-Malaysia Aerospace Council (UMAC).

"Besides stressing the marketing of defence equipment, I stressed that Malaysia wanted to have a partnership with the US and we want the US to have an off-set programme that determines the procurement of defence equipment," he told reporters after attending a closed-door dialogue with AMCHAM and UMAC here today.

Besides that, Malaysia also raised the question of transfer of technology and defence training from the US.

He said the AMCHAM and UMAC delegates agreed unanimously to all the calls and suggestions he made.

Malaysia was ready to be a hub for marketing of US defence equipment for the Asean region and hoped that the US would at the very least have a research and development unit in Malaysia, Ahmad Zahid said.

Asked about his views on Singapore's sophisticated defence equipment, Ahmad Zahid said it did not cause Malaysia to worry.

He said till now Malaysia has had a good defence relationship with its neighbour including having joint military exercises from time to time.

On Malaysia-Thailand border security following the insurgency in the south Thailand region, he said Malaysia had close cooperation with the Thai army and if there was any incursion it would be by a third party.

He however declined to elaborate on the third party.

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