MACC Open More Probe Papers Following Auditor-General's Report

UTRAJAYA, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is still studying the Auditor-General's Report 2009 and does not dismiss the possibility of opening more investigation papers based on the report.

Its deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdull said so far, at least 15 investigation papers had been opened on issues raised in the report, including on the Defence Ministry spending on luxury items for the VVIP room, Mawilla 3 at the Royal Malaysian Navy base in Lumut and in Langkawi.

"Anything (in the report) that was linked to corruption, that did not follow specifications or involved false claims will be investigated," he said after the launching of MACC's Innovation Day 2010, here Tuesday by its chief commissioner, Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed.

A newspaper report had quoted the Auditor-General's Report as mentioning that the Defence Ministry had spent RM300,000 on buying luxury items for the VVIP room, including RM95,880 on wallpaper, by using an allocation from the First Economic Stimulus Package.

-- BERNAMA

Ministry Pledges To Cooperate With MACC Over VVIP Room At Naval Bases

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The Defence Ministry pledged to cooperate fully with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in its investigations into the amount spent on luxury items at the VVIP room at the Lumut naval base and at the Langkawi naval base.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said there would be no compromise on those involved if misappropriation had indeed taken place.

"If needs be, we will provide all the documents to help in the investigations," he told reporters after receiving United States Defence Secretary Robert Gates at Wisma Pertahanan here Tuesday.

He said those involved should be held responsible irrespective of whether they were still with the ministry or not.

"We want the society to know that we are transparent in managing our finance," he said.

AL :
Its good that we know that MACC or SPRM is taking thing seriously regardless of who it be.
Well, if they really spending unwisely just take action. Coz this ppl are using taxpayer's money like their own money..

RM3.4 Billion Worth Of Contracts Sealed At Second Day Of LIMA

LANGKAWI, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2009) saw RM3.4 billion worth of contracts sealed at the second day Wednesday.The deals were between the Malaysian government and private sector companies both foreign and local, as well as between local and foreign companies. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak witnessed the signing of all the deals.

The government, through the Defence Ministry (MINDEF) signed seven memoranda of agreements and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with four local companies namely Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd, Aerotree Defence and Services Sdn Bhd, Ikramatic Synergy Sdn Bhd and Star Fest Sdn Bhd and three foreign companies.The foreign companies were MBDA France, DCNS France and SAAB Avitronics of South Africa."The contract with the local companies is worth RM949.6 million for training simulators, spares and missile systems upgrade while the foreign companies contracts were worth RM321.3 million," said the Defence Ministry in a statement issued here. Meanwhile, the MoU signed was for cooperation in the Malaysian Defence and Security Technology Park in Sungkai, Perak between MINDEF and Masterplan Consulting Sdn Bhd.

The contracts between local and international companies meanwhile involved two contracts, one memorandum of agreement and three MoU. The value of these contracts amounted to RM2.2 billion.One of the deals involved Composite Technology Research Malaysia Sdn Bhd securing contracts worth over RM1 billion from Spirit AeroSystems (Europe) Ltd, which among others was for the manufacture and supply of wing composites components for Airbus A350XWB.

-- BERNAMA

LIMA '09: 17 defence ministers to attend

KUALA LUMPUR: This year's Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (Lima '09) is set to reach new heights. Seventeen ministers of defence will be attending this year's show, the highest number so far since the inaugural Lima in 1991. Their attendance emphasises the show's position as the top aerospace and maritime technology showcase in the region.

Among the defence ministers attending are those from Singapore, France, Sweden, Russia and Sudan.This is another feather in the cap for Lima '09. It has broken the record for the highest number of warships and vessels for the maritime segment.It was recently reported that 96 ships will be anchored off Porto Malai, far surpassing the number at Lima '07.The show is also expected to attract a record 40,000 trade visitors, with some industry analysts believing the numbers could be even higher.

Lima '09 will see 325 exhibitors from 25 countries showcasing their products and services. There will be 11 national pavilions from countries such as the United States, Australia, Britain, France, Italy, Russia, Germany, India and, of course, Malaysia.The exhibition runs from Dec 1 to 5 and will be opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

NSTP

384 Syarikat Dari 24 Negara Sertai Pameran Lima

BAGAN DATOH, 22 Nov (Bernama) -- Sebanyak 384 syarikat dari 24 negara akan mempamerkan produk keluaran mereka pada Pameran Udara dan Maritim Antarabangsa Langkawi (LIMA 09) yang akan bermula dari 1 hingga 5 Dis ini. Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata sebanyak 20 negara telah bersetuju untuk mengadakan pertunjukan statik maritim membabitkan 38 buah kapal di Awana Porto Malai.Katanya kira-kira setengah juta orang tempatan dijangka mengunjungi LIMA 09 dengan masuk secara percuma pada 5 Dis ini.

"Buat pertama kalinya orang ramai akan berpeluang melihat kapal selam pertama Malaysia, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman pada 5 Dis ini. Namun atas sebab keselamatan, orang ramai hanya dibenarkan melihat dari luaran dan tidak dibenarkan melawat ke dalam kapal selam itu," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari Ahad.Beliau berkata beberapa negara akan membuat pembelian pada LIMA 09 yang membabitkan kos RM1 bilion dan ini dijangka bertambah apabila Menteri Pertahanan dan panglima tentera dari negara-negara Asean melihat sendiri aset-aset pertahanan yang dipamerkan.

Sementara itu, Ahmad Zahid berkata Kementerian Pelancongan akan mengadakan pameran kesenian dan pertunjukan kebudayaan pada setiap malam mulai 30 Nov hingga 5 Dis sempena LIMA 09.Beliau berkata Kementerian Pelancongan juga akan mengadakan pasar malam setiap hari sepanjang LIMA 09 yang akan menjual pelbagai produk dari 14 negeri di Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA

Anaklangkawi :- Kita tgk capai tak sasaran Kementerian Pertahanan utk transaksi RM1 billion.

Maritime The Focus Of LIMA 09

LANGKAWI, Nov 23 (Bernama) -- The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 09) from Dec 1-5 will focus on maritime as participation in the segment has increased compared to aerospace. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said 94 vessels would be taking part in the maritime static show at Awana Porto Malai compared to 71 vessels at LIMA 07.

"The public will also get to see Malaysia's first submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman," he said after chairing a meeting on LIMA 09 here Monday.The aerospace segment would not lack excitement as aircraft from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) would be putting up shows.The reduced participation in the aerospace segment was due to air shows in Dubai, Paris, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia and also the economic slowdown. Zahid said more than 300 companies from 24 countries led by Italy would be participating in LIMA 09, the tenth in the series.

He hoped that organiser HW Lima would improve facilities at LIMA to stop companies from moving on to exhibitions in Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia.In conjunction with LIMA 09, the Tourism Ministry will hold a food and handicraft exhibition and cultural shows at Awana Porto Malai and Kompleks Pekan Rabu in Kuah.-- BERNAMA

LIMA '09 Attracts 330 Companies From 24 Countries

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- A total of 330 companies from 24 countries have so far confirmed their participation in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2009 (LIMA '09) from Dec 1 to 5. Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abu Bakar Abdullah said 53 types of aircraft and 71 warships would be making a bee-line towards Langkawi for the expo. He said exhibitors from Australia, Russia, Norway, Poland, United Kingdom, South Africa and Singapore were among those coming. Malaysia's first Scorpene submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, which sailed back from France recently, will be displayed in public for the first time at Porto Malai.

"About 46,000 trade visitors are expected this year. On the fourth day, about 40,000 people are expected to turn up when the exhibition is opened to the public," he told reporters here.Abu Bakar said the fact that LIMA was one of the most prestigious events in the world was also another factor why it remained popular and well supported. He said the expo was one of the largest defence and civil showcases in the world, regularly attracting the global maritime and aerospace industries to the island.

LIMA 09 will maintain the venues, Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC) for the aerospace segment and the maritime equivalent at Porto Malai.Among the aerospace attractions this year will be the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and F-16 jet-fighters of the Singapore Air Force; a fly-past by a B-52 bomber of the United States Air Force; a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the Royal Brunei Air Force; F/A-18D Hornets, Sukhoi Su-30MKM Flankers and MiG-29N Fulcrum jet-fighters of the Royal Malaysian Air Force; and Super Lynx and Fennec AS555 helicopters of the Royal Malaysian Navy.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency will demonstrate water bombing with its Bombardier CL-415 airplane. HW Lima Sdn Bhd now has the sole rights of organising the event. Previously, the company organised the maritime segment while the aerospace show was handled by another company. Two conferences themed "The Changing nature of Maritime Securities: Challenges and the Applications of Technology" and "Air Power in Maritime Security" would also be held.-- BERNAMA

Anaklangkawi :-
To visitors planning to come during LIMA i suggest better make all the arrangement now! It will always be a great event & also full house hotels.