TURKIYE VISIT ACHIEVES OBJECTIVES, BENEFICIAL FOR MALAYSIA'S DEFENCE INDUSTRY - MOHAMED KHALED

From Ahmad Syabil Sultan Noordin Ahmad

ISTANBUL, June 13 (Bernama) -- Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin today summarised his five-day working visit to Turkiye since last Sunday as having achieved its objectives, as well as being meaningful, valuable and beneficial for Malaysia’s defence industry.

He said the results of the visit could further strengthen the defence cooperation between the two countries.

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“In general, we are satisfied and would like to thank everyone who has been involved in making this visit a success as it was aimed to obtain information and discuss the latest development of the defence industry, as well as enhancing defence cooperation,” he told a press conference here.

Today is the last day of Mohamed Khaled's official visit to the Eurasian country located between the European and Asian continents since he was appointed Minister of Defense on Dec 12 last year.

During the visit, several meetings were held with his Turkish counterpart, Yasar Guler, in addition to meeting with the industrial implementation agency, the Turkish defence industry secretariat as well as the country's renowned defence companies such as Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), Savunma Teknolojieri Muhendiskil (STM), Aselsan, and Makine ve Kimya Endustrisi (MKI).

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On the possibility of the ministry increasing the number of asset purchases from Turkiye, Mohamed Khaled said it depends on the situation because Malaysia has already purchased three Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Systems (MALE UAS) and three coastal mission ships (LMS) of the second batch from Turkiye .

“I believe that we cannot deny the strength of the Turkish defence industry. As long as the goods (received) are of good quality, the price is reasonable, good terms or cooperation can be achieved, then Turkiye will continue to be Malaysia's priority and attention,” he said.

Mohamed Khaled said Turkiye respects and sees Malaysia on an equal standing to be a producer country for the defence industry and that was made possible because Malaysia was deemed a close friend.

During the visit, Mohamed Khaled also attended the Malaysia-Turkey High Level Committee Meeting which was held for the first time at the Turkish Ministry of National Defence in Ankara.

He also signed a government-to-government (G2G) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the procurement of defence products as well as collaboration and cooperation agreements involving Malaysian and Turkish defence industry players.

Mohamed Khaled also witnessed the handing over of the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for the purchase of the second batch of LMS to Turkiye defense company STM on Tuesday.

-- BERNAMA