Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his ministry is in no way involved in the high cost of the Rapid Intervention Vehicles (RIV) that was questioned by the Sultan of Johor recently.

NONE "The ministry did not compromise and was not involved in any of this. We did not compromise with anyone," Zahid ( right ) was reported as saying in the Sun today.

He said that the ministry was investigating the purchase of the RIVs supplied to the Special Forces Regiment and would take legal action against the supplier if the sultan's claim was true.

Sultan Ibrahim Ismail, who is also the Special Forces Regiment colonel commandant recently questioned the government's purchase of four RIVs for RM2.76 million, or RM690,000 each, when he had bought one for only RM150,000.

He also cautioned former army generals-cum-businessmen against jacking up prices for military equipment that did not meet needs.

"If the issue persists, where the equipment does not meet the Special Forces' requirements while the prices are unreasonable, it is better that I take over the procurement exercise," he was quoted by Bernama as saying.

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