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'No need to test fly helicopters first'
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Fri, Oct 31, 2008
New Straits Times
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>THE Defence Ministry did not carry out a physical evaluation of the Eurocopter helicopter before ordering 12 units as the manufacturer would have had to fabricate the aircraft based on the buyer's specifications. Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said test flights or factory visits were also not done for the same reason.
He said the helicopters would go through a physical pre-acceptance test during construction and a post-acceptance test on completion.
"At such a preliminary stage, no physical evaluation was needed as we were just choosing the helicopters based on our needs and specifications."
He said this after Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) asked if the Eurocopter had been physically evaluated before signing a RM1.607 billion order for the helicopters.
Referring to an analogy by M. Manogaran (DAP-Teluk Intan), who had said a person buying a Perodua Kancil would conduct a physical inspection before putting down money, Abu Seman said buying a helicopter was not the same as buying a car.
He said the Royal Malaysian Air Force had experts knowledgeable with the latest helicopter technology.
Replying to points raised during the debate on the 2009 Budget, he said the absence of physical inspections or factory visits was also to maintain the integrity of the six-man valuation committee.
The purchase has been put off to reduce government expenditure with the money to be used on projects that would directly benefit the people.
Abu Seman's statement elicited a barrage of questions from opposition MPs.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said it did not make sense that such sophisticated aircraft were bought based solely on documentation specifications.
Lim had earlier said that purchasing aircraft without physical tests showed a severe disregard for human lives.
"Malaysia can go into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first country to purchase aircraft without physical evaluation."
Mahfuz Omar (Pas-Pokok Sena) said the government should not depend on an aircraft's capabilities based on specifications listed on paper.
Abu Seman said of the 17 companies that bid for the tender, three were short-listed with Eurocopter on top of the list for meeting the government's specifications.
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