PUTRAJAYA will decide in one to two weeks whether to proceed with a deal for six military helicopters made by the previous Barisan Nasional government.

Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu told the Dewan Rakyat today that a paper on the controversial purchase will be tabled at a cabinet meeting, and the decision will be announced to the public and Parliament.

BN signed a contract to buy the helicopters for RM322 million in 2016, following a demonstration of the aircraft at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition the year before.

Putrajaya has paid RM113 million towards the purchase, or 35% of the total contract value.

The helicopters were to be delivered in two batches, in July 2017 and December last year. None has been received.

“When the paper on the issue is ready, it will be tabled to the cabinet, which will then decide whether to continue with the purchase or cancel it,” Mohamad said in reply to a question by Fahmi Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai).

“If the purchase is continued, we will demand that the helicopters be delivered. If we decide not to go ahead, we will demand our money back.” – November 28, 2019.