KLUANG, May 10 — The Defence Ministry (Mindef) will consider cancelling or reopening the tender due to delays in the delivery of the first of four Black Hawk helicopters if the current contractor continues to fail to deliver as per the agreement.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said this course of action would be based on the agreement between the ministry and the appointed contractor company.
“In this kind of procurement, there are delays, and our challenge is to manage those delays according to the contract terms. The contract considers these potential issues, and when they happen, we refer to the contract.
“When it truly cannot be fulfilled, that is when we decide whether to cancel or reopen the tender. All actions are taken within the contractual terms,” he told the press during a working visit to Kem Mahkota today.
On April 16, Army Chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan said the Malaysian Army (TDM) will take further action if the appointed contractor failed to deliver the first Black Hawk helicopter by the end of last month.
He was quoted as saying that TDM hoped the contractor could make the delivery of one of four Sikorsky UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopters leased for the use of the Army Air Corps in April.
When asked whether Mindef plans to buy helicopters instead of leasing them, Khaled said the government’s approach is to lease, as it has cost-saving elements.
In May last year, Mindef signed a five-year leasing contract for the four helicopters with local company Aerotree Defence and Services Sdn Bhd, valued at RM187 million.
Meanwhile, Khaled, the Kota Tinggi MP, said that the construction of Poliklinik Kem Mahkota, which has been delayed since last year, is expected to be completed next year after a new contractor is appointed to continue the work.
Once completed, the polyclinic, which will also have a haemodialysis centre and a surgery centre, will offer health services to approximately 10,000 Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) personnel and local residents.
During the event, he handed over a cheque for RM11.4 million for the 2023 Military Family Housing (RKAT) Maintenance Programme for Kem Mahkota, covering 1,078 units of military personnel’s homes at the camp.
Khaled also presented the Madani Education Contribution by the Armed Forces Fund Board Foundation (YLTAT) to 10 ATM children starting school this year, providing a one-off RM50 credit into their National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN Prime) and an additional RM300 cash contribution to 18 children of military personnel with chronic illnesses.
— Bernama
