THE Defence Ministry will get the attorney-general’s advice before making any move in relation to the purchase of six helicopters worth RM300 million by the previous administration.

Minister Mohamad Sabu said his ministry will hold talks with the Finance Ministry and A-G on the aircraft, which have yet to be delivered.

“We will make a decision based on the advice of the A-G (with regard to) the helicopters, which have yet to arrive.

“We will get the views of the A-G and Finance Ministry… on whether to take action,” he told reporters after an award presentation event in Kota Baru today.

Mohamad recently said the government might go to court over the RM300 million buy by the Barisan Nasional administration.

Should the armed forces refuse to use the helicopters upon their delivery, he said, discussions will be held with other ministries.

The aircraft were supposed to have been delivered in two phases – two helicopters in July 2017 and the remaining four by December last year.

Mohamad said the previous government had paid RM112 million, or 35% of the total price.

“It is not that we do not want to take delivery of the helicopters, but the issue is, they have not arrived till today.”

On the 2019 Warriors Fund campaign, he said it is expected to surpass the collection target of RM10 million soon.

“The ministry had targeted only RM6 million, but with greater public awareness, the collection looks set to exceed RM10 million.”

He also thanked Putrajaya for approving a one-off payment of RM500 for 70,000 recipients of the Malaysian Service Medal, involving an allocation of RM35 million. – Bernama, November 3, 2019.