Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) is set to submit a formal application to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who also serves as the Finance Minister, seeking the release of procurement funds critical for the forces' operational expenditure.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chief of Defence Force Gen Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman highlighted the temporary nature of the procurement freeze imposed by the government last month, noting its direct impact on the MAF's ongoing operations. He explained that any delay in lifting the freeze could undermine the forces' preparedness by affecting operational expenditure, which is essential for routine tasks.
Speaking at a press conference during his welcoming ceremony as the 24th Chief of Defence Force at Wisma Pertahanan, Malek Razak announced that the application for fund release would be submitted within a week. He expressed confidence that the Prime Minister would consider the justifications for releasing operational funds, particularly for the most critical components.
Malek Razak revealed that Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, along with the Defence Ministry's secretary-general, is finalizing documents that outline which operational expenditures should be prioritized. These documents are expected to be presented to the Prime Minister soon. He emphasized the urgency of the matter, with operational expenditure estimates at RM2 billion for the army and RM1.5 billion each for the navy and air force.
The procurement freeze, ordered by Anwar on January 16, followed allegations of corruption involving procurement decisions within the MAF and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM). The freeze will remain until compliance with procurement procedures is assured, as part of efforts to address controversies linked to corruption and abuse of power by former top leaders within the armed forces. Mohamed Khaled indicated that the Defence Ministry would ensure that the implementation of procurement adheres to governance frameworks and financial regulations.