Mindef has submitted report on procurement of 36 light combat aircraft to MOF - Hishammuddin

He said the physical assessment and price negotiation for the proposed acquisition had been completed, and the ministry was currently awaiting a decision from the Ministry of Finance.

"We definitely need the LCA, and I believe there will be no problem if I use the previous (procurement) method, where the assets are determined by the end user (RMAF), this is my promise to the Air Force," he said.

He said this during a press conference after attending the ceremony to send off the first batch of the Malaysian Battalion (MALLBATT 850-10) peacekeeping force of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), at the RMAF Base in Subang, today.

Also present were Ministry of Defence secretary-general Datuk Seri Muez Abd Aziz and Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang.

Commenting on the allegation of a lack of evaluation visits raised by tenderers, he said matters like this would be raised, especially with the General Election (GE) approaching.

"If you want to accuse you need to include evidence, if something is wrong it's wrong, so give the evidence to the relevant agencies so they can investigate," he said.

Previously, a total of eight international companies were reported to have bid for the tender to supply 36 LCA jets.

The proposed acquisition is to replace five BAE System Hawk Mk 108 two-seater LCA jets and 13 British-made Mk 208 single-seat models that have been in use for over a decade, as well as seven Italian-made Aermacchi MB-339CM Fighter Lead In Trainer (FLIT)-LCA stationed in Penang.

Meanwhile, he said a total of 854 officers and members would be sent to join MALBATT 850-10 to undergo a UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in stages over the next twelve months.

Hishammuddin said the UNIFIL mission this time featured 84 officers and 770 others of various ranks, including a MINDEF civil servant, and they will be led by Col Mohd Rizman Ramli.

The MALBATT 850-10 will also be accompanied by 30 personnel from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) which will feature two female personnel for the very first time.

"All of them will be mobilised in stages beginning today to carry out their mission officially for 12 months from Nov 13.

"MALBATT 850-10 will be placed in two permanent locations, namely the Ma'rakah and Tibnin camps, and will carry out tasks under UNIFIL's Sector West Headquarters," he said.

Hishammuddin said the continuous involvement of the Malaysian Armed Forces in the peacekeeping mission showed that it was always ready and prepared to mobilise forces to meet requirements abroad, while it also reflected the world's recognition of MAF's capabilities and expertise in carrying out peacekeeping missions.