The Defence Ministry will implement improvements to the armed forces asset procurement system following a freeze on procurement funds.
Minister Khaled Nordin said the new measures were agreed upon after recent discussions with the Finance Ministry.
Khaled (above) said future procurement committees must include representatives from across the services, rather than from a single branch only, to enhance transparency and ensure proper checks and balances.
“For example, if a procurement is carried out by the navy, the committee must also include representatives from other services such as the army or the air force,” he told reporters after attending the Back-to-School Assistance Programme for the Pasir Gudang parliamentary constituency today.
Khaled added that procurement of equipment from abroad must first go through an open international tender to avoid the involvement of agents that could increase costs.
He said the Finance Ministry has also set a condition requiring a representative from the Home Ministry to sit on the tender board for major procurements involving the Defence Ministry.
‘Operational readiness not affected’
Meanwhile, he assured that the freeze does not affect the armed forces’ operational readiness, as it does not involve critical daily operational needs.
Exempted items include food supplies for personnel on operations, as well as essential logistics such as vehicle fuel and spare parts.
“When personnel are deployed for operations, they need food supplies. Vehicles also require fuel and spare parts. These items have been requested to be exempted from the freeze,” he said.
On Jan 16, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim directed that all armed forces and police procurement decisions linked to corruption issues be temporarily frozen until procurement procedures are fully complied with.
The freeze followed controversy involving alleged corruption and abuse of power by several former top leaders of the armed forces.
- Bernama
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