Malaysia signs deal to buy two RI planes

Malaysia signs deal to buy two RI planes

The Malaysian government on Wednesday inked a deal to buy two
Indonesian transport aircraft worth US$34.2 million.

Malaysian Defense Minister Najib Razak signed the contract
between the government and PT Dirgantara Indonesia to purchase
the CN 235-220M airplanes, bringing to eight the total number of
Indonesian aircraft currently used by the military.

"These aircraft will be used for troop transport, paratroop
dropping, medical evacuation, cargo and logistics, as well as
transportation of V.I.P.'s," Najib told reporters after the
signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

"The first aircraft is expected to be received by July 2004,
and the second aircraft on December, 2004 ... but we hope it will
be earlier than that," he said.

Najib said the purchases were not to further beef up the
military's defense capabilities, but would serve to "augment our
logistical support".

In August, Malaysia announced it planned to buy 48 tanks and
14 support vehicles from Poland, with the first tanks to be
delivered about a year later.

The government has this year already ordered British and
Russian missile systems worth 364 million dollars, agreed to buy
its first three submarines from France, and is considering a deal
to buy Russian Sukhoi SU-30 fighter jets. -- DPA