Gov't Ready To Face Lawsuit Over Helicopter Lease Cancellation

KUANTAN, Sept 20  (Bernama) -- The government is prepared to face a lawsuit filed by a company over the cancellation of a five-year lease for four USA-made UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that legal action is a right for any party, but the government is also ready to defend itself through the proper channels.

"Anyone can sue the government, and the government will certainly challenge it," he said briefly after officiating the Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Carnival in conjunction with the 92nd Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) Day celebration at the Kuantan Air Base here today.

Mohamed Khaled’s remarks followed media reports about Aerotree Defence and Services Sdn Bhd, which filed a RM353 million lawsuit against the government, the Ministry of Defence and its secretary-general, over the cancellation of the lease for the helicopters.

The lawsuit was filed in the Kuala Lumpur High Court through the legal firm Messrs Hafarizam, Wan Aisha & Mubarak.

In his speech, Mohamed Khaled emphasised that the rapid advancement of technology and geopolitics requires a comprehensive approach involving both the government and society to tackle various security threats.

“This is why, in our country, we must ensure that national security and defence are not solely the responsibility of the ATM but involve a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” he said.

He added that events like CIMIC are essential platforms for raising public awareness about the country's defence and security, and for encouraging individuals to contribute to national safety and peace.

“The purpose of CIMIC is not just to showcase performances or exhibitions, but to inspire people to join the armed forces or volunteer. The public will play a crucial role, whether in urban or rural areas, to ensure the safety of the nation. CIMIC also serves as an instrument for implementing the whole-of-government, whole-of-society (WOGOS) concept," he said.

CIMIC, a civil-military cooperation initiative by the Ministry of Defence, aims to strengthen the concept of comprehensive defence through closer collaboration between the military and the people.

The CIMIC Carnival, which runs for two days until tomorrow at the Kuantan Air Base, includes dynamic demonstrations, military asset exhibitions from all three ATM branches, and information booths about career opportunities in the ATM.

-- BERNAMA