RM290 mil a year to maintain two subs
Rahmah Ghazali and S PathmawathyPublished: Dec 15, 2009 11:50 AM | Updated: Dec 15, 2009 12:02 PM
Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that the cost to operate Malaysia’s two submarines is estimated at RM290 million annually.
Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that the cost to operate Malaysia’s two submarines is estimated at RM290 million annually.
He said the value of the procurement contract for the two submarines was RM5.382 billion (1.084 billion euros), which included the purchase price, integrated logistics support, spare parts as well as training of the crew.
Ahmad Zahid said this in his written reply to Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang), who asked the ministry to state the annual expense to maintain the submarine crew including training courses in France, the salary of the crew, the maintenance cost, the weapons, and the construction of the new harbour in Kota Kinabalu.
According to the ministry, the government will no longer be sending trainees to France because the submarines are already being handed over to Malaysia.
"The new training courses will be conducted in Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) base in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah," said the ministry.
RM1 billion for weapons
Malaysia took delivery of one of the two European-made Scorpene submarines commissioned from French contractor DCNS and Spain's Navantia three months ago.
The second submarine is scheduled for delivery in late 2009.
According to the ministry, the weapons purchase for the submarines cost RM1.08 billion (219 million euros).
The two submarines have long attracted controversy since the deal was inked in 2002.
The opposition claims that a RM540 million commission was paid to Abdul Razak Baginda, a close associate of now Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, for brokering the deal.
The premier has since denied there was any corruption in the deal, which was made when he was the defence minister.
He said the value of the procurement contract for the two submarines was RM5.382 billion (1.084 billion euros), which included the purchase price, integrated logistics support, spare parts as well as training of the crew.
Ahmad Zahid said this in his written reply to Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang), who asked the ministry to state the annual expense to maintain the submarine crew including training courses in France, the salary of the crew, the maintenance cost, the weapons, and the construction of the new harbour in Kota Kinabalu. According to the ministry, the government will no longer be sending trainees to France because the submarines are already being handed over to Malaysia.
"The new training courses will be conducted in Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) base in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah," said the ministry.
RM1 billion for weapons
Malaysia took delivery of one of the two European-made Scorpene submarines commissioned from French contractor DCNS and Spain's Navantia three months ago.
The second submarine is scheduled for delivery in late 2009.
According to the ministry, the weapons purchase for the submarines cost RM1.08 billion (219 million euros).
The two submarines have long attracted controversy since the deal was inked in 2002.
The opposition claims that a RM540 million commission was paid to Abdul Razak Baginda, a close associate of now Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, for brokering the deal.
The premier has since denied there was any corruption in the deal, which was made when he was the defence minister.
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