KUALA LUMPUR: It is time for Malaysia to become less import-dependent by purchasing defence assets from local companies, said Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof.
Redzuan said he planned to table a paper to the Cabinet to tap into local expertise by creating an ecosystem where local companies could further improve their products.
“We spend a lot of money on defence-related purchases like boats and such from foreign countries when, at the same time, the Indonesian Navy bought more than 40 vessels from a Malaysian company.
“We are not using our own local expertise because there is no proper ecosystem and it is us (the government) who did not provide this access to our entrepreneurs,” he told the New Straits Times in an interview recently.
Redzuan added that he had discussed with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu to carve out a plan where the government could accommodate locals who wanted to venture into selling defence assets.
He said instead of buying frigates from Korea, Italy or France to defend Malaysia’s coastal line, the government could engage local companies who were able to build smaller and faster vessels.
“This will also cut the middlemen and this is a problem. During a Cabinet meeting recently, Mohamad Sabu told us ministers about his visit to the Paris Airshow.
“He met with a company and asked the price of one of their bombs and the person said it was 300 euro each. He then walked away.
“Soon after, a Malaysian said he was the agent for the company and asked if Mohamad was interested in buying the bomb.
"The minister asked about the price and the agent said the best price he could give was RM10,000. This has been happening for many years and it got me thinking - why not use our own local products?” he said.