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HIS MAJESTY Sultan Ibrahim, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, has ordered the Ministry of Defence to cancel its proposed acquisition of over 30-year-old Black Hawk helicopters, raising concerns over safety and the integrity of the military’s procurement process.
Delivering a pointed royal address at the 60th Anniversary Parade of the Special Forces Regiment (Rejimen Gerak Khas) at Kem Iskandar today, His Majesty, who serves as the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), criticised the plan and reminded the ministry not to repeat costly errors from the past.
“Let us not make the same mistake we did with the second-hand SkyHawk jets. Are we really going to put our pilots into flying coffins? Use your judgment,” His Majesty said.
Sultan Ibrahim expressed deep concern over what he described as a problematic culture within the ministry, alleging undue influence from intermediaries and former military personnel acting as sales agents.
“I believe all this is happening because the Ministry of Defence is full of agents or ex-generals who are now acting as salesmen. Even textile traders are coming in to sell drones.
“If every purchase is dictated by middlemen’s prices, then the available budget will never be enough. So don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes. If you’re not prepared to heed my advice, I won’t speak out again,” His Majesty warned.
The King’s rare and forthright remarks come amid growing scrutiny of defence procurement practices and are expected to place renewed pressure on the ministry to justify its purchasing decisions and ensure transparency, especially in matters of national security. - August 16, 2025