DSA 2022: Cendana Auto features military vehicles made by local youths

By Amirul Mohd Sajadi

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- Looking at the military vehicles owned by Cendana Auto Sdn Bhd (Cendana Auto), one might think that the armoured vehicles were foreign-made.

The truth is the four military vehicles displayed at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2022 and National Security (NATSEC) Asia 2022 exhibitions were designed and manufactured using the expertise of young talents from the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) and the MARA Skills Institute (IKM).

Cendana Auto director, Abdul Rauf Nassiruddin, said the move to utilise local talents was to prove that their creations are on par with international products.

“From designing to manufacturing and installation, everything was done at our factory in Semenyih, Selangor. It is 100 per cent locally made (military vehicles).

“At the same time, we also provide opportunities to the youths to create innovations and prove that IKBN and IKM graduates are highly capable of producing the best products as good as foreign companies," he told Bernama when met at the exhibitions here today.

Abdul Rauf said the four variant military vehicles built by his company are Fitted For Radio (FFR), Armed Tactical Ground Vehicle (ARTAC), Ground Tactical Mortar Transporter (MT-8150) and Special Operation Vehicle (SF-21X).

“We received orders from the Malaysian Army for 70 units of FFR, of which 40 are earmarked for domestic use and the rest are for the use of personnel deployed in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.

“Twenty-four of the 48 units of MT-8150 were handed over to the army and the remaining vehicles are still under construction," he added.

Abdul Rauf said the MT-8150 vehicle is capable of carrying 70 81mm mortar shells and six personnel.

According to him, ARTAC is capable of carrying several types of weapons, including an Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL), a Heavy Machine Gun (12.7mm), and the Metis-M type Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM).

Forty-nine ARTAC units will be sent in stages to the army after they go through various capability testing processes to ensure that each is built according to the set specifications, he said.

Abdul Rauf said the Special Operations Vehicle (SF-21X) was specially built for the use of Special Operations Group (GGK) members to carry out operations.

“The SF-21X vehicles are equipped with explosion protection on the engine and fuel tank, an automatic hand grenade launcher, and a combat machine gun. Apart from that, this SF-21X can carry six members and is capable of resisting landmine explosions,” he explained.

-- BERNAMA