Malaysia Overhauls Military Procurement System Following Corruption Allegations
Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA) - Malaysian authorities have begun overhauling the military asset procurement system for the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) following a freeze on procurement funding triggered by corruption allegations involving former senior military officials.
Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated that his ministry would implement a number of improvements to the military asset procurement system.
The new measures were agreed upon following discussions with Malaysia's Ministry of Finance, as reported by BERNAMA in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
Khaled said that future procurement committees must include representatives from all service branches, rather than just one, in order to enhance transparency and ensure adequate checks and balances.
"For example, if procurement is carried out by the Royal Malaysian Navy, the committee must also include representatives from other services such as the Army or the Air Force," Khaled said.
He added that the procurement of equipment from abroad must first go through an open international tender process to avoid the involvement of agents who could inflate costs.
According to Khaled, the Ministry of Finance has also established a requirement for representatives from the Home Affairs Ministry to sit on tender boards for major procurements involving the Defence Ministry.
Khaled assured that the freeze does not affect the operational readiness of the Malaysian Armed Forces, as it does not cover critical daily operational requirements.
Items exempted from the freeze include food supplies for personnel deployed on operations, as well as essential logistics such as vehicle fuel and spare parts.
"When personnel are deployed on remote operations, they require food supplies. Vehicles also need fuel and spare parts. These items have been requested to be exempted from the freeze," he said.
Previously, on 16 January, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim directed that all military and police asset procurement decisions linked to corruption issues be temporarily frozen until procurement procedures are fully complied with.
The freeze was implemented following controversy over alleged corruption and abuse of power by a number of former senior leaders of the Malaysian armed forces.
Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated that his ministry would implement a number of improvements to the military asset procurement system.
The new measures were agreed upon following discussions with Malaysia's Ministry of Finance, as reported by BERNAMA in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
Khaled said that future procurement committees must include representatives from all service branches, rather than just one, in order to enhance transparency and ensure adequate checks and balances.
"For example, if procurement is carried out by the Royal Malaysian Navy, the committee must also include representatives from other services such as the Army or the Air Force," Khaled said.
He added that the procurement of equipment from abroad must first go through an open international tender process to avoid the involvement of agents who could inflate costs.
According to Khaled, the Ministry of Finance has also established a requirement for representatives from the Home Affairs Ministry to sit on tender boards for major procurements involving the Defence Ministry.
Khaled assured that the freeze does not affect the operational readiness of the Malaysian Armed Forces, as it does not cover critical daily operational requirements.
Items exempted from the freeze include food supplies for personnel deployed on operations, as well as essential logistics such as vehicle fuel and spare parts.
"When personnel are deployed on remote operations, they require food supplies. Vehicles also need fuel and spare parts. These items have been requested to be exempted from the freeze," he said.
Previously, on 16 January, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim directed that all military and police asset procurement decisions linked to corruption issues be temporarily frozen until procurement procedures are fully complied with.
The freeze was implemented following controversy over alleged corruption and abuse of power by a number of former senior leaders of the Malaysian armed forces.