Kuala lumpur: Malaysia has asserted its right to claim compensation from Norway and the involved company following the cancellation of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) export licence, stated Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. He emphasized the financial losses and missed opportunities Malaysia has faced due to this cancellation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamed Khaled highlighted that public funds were allocated for the programme, which could have been redirected if Norway had informed Malaysia earlier about the licence cancellation. He made these remarks in response to a New Straits Times article titled "Move on from missile deal and find replacement."

Khaled stressed that while Malaysia is exploring alternative solutions to meet its defence needs, such actions cannot be overlooked without accountability. He noted that finding a replacement for the NSM system is complex and demands new contract negotiations and system integration, which will take considerable time, cost, and resources.

The Defence Minister further elaborated that the issue transcends a bilateral contract dispute, impacting national defence and security. He insisted that a firm message must be sent to Norway and the international defence community, asserting that such actions will not go unanswered or unaccounted for.

Khaled criticized Norway's actions as unjustified and detrimental to bilateral ties, pointing out that smaller nations depend on a stable international environment where commitments are honoured. He warned that allowing a country or company to abandon commitments without accountability sets a dangerous precedent for future cooperation.

Khaled concluded that if Norway values its relationship with Malaysia and respects rules-based international order principles, it should support a fair compensation process that considers the full impact of the cancellation.