How RM2 million a year became RM21 million a year for 15 years

As promised, Malaysia Today is going to publish a series of reports backed by official documents to prove that there is more than meets the eye in how the Ministry of Defence under Najib Tun Razak spent the taxpayers’ money. All these incidences involved blatant abuse of power and violation of procedures. Today is the first in a series of exposes.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Since 1988, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) used to train its personnel in Korat, Thailand, at a cost of RM2 million per year.

In 2007, the then Deputy Prime Minister approved the leasing of the Aircraft Combat Manoeuvring Instrument (ACMI) from a Malaysian company at a cost of RM21 million per year -- more than ten times what the RMAF was paying to train its personnel in Thailand. The leasing was for 15 years.

The contract was based on ‘negotiated without tender’ and the company had no prior experience in the business. The negotiated contract was not conducted through the normal procedure nor was it approved through the proper channels. Yet the current Prime Minister approved the contract in violation of procedure and what could be classified as abuse of power.

Malaysia Today kicks off this expose with the documents below. More on this matter will be revealed as we go along to show the many blatant incidences of abuse of power and violation of procedure perpetuated by the Ministry of Defence under Najib Tun Razak.