PUTRAJAYA, July 29 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government will look into the budgetary consideration for the MiG-29N replacement programme.
He said: “We are looking at our defence requirement in the future but it is not so much in terms of our future needs, but it is a question whether we can afford and it is also the question of budgetary consideration.”
Najib (picture) said this when asked about the possibility of France winning the contract for the MiG-29N replacement programme.
“We also have to grapple with a fiscal deficit reduction in Malaysia because we need to strengthen our micro and fiscal level,” he said at a joint media conference in conjunction with French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault’s official visit to Malaysia here today.
Hence, he said the government needed to look at not only multirole combat aircraft but also consider other hardware including helicopter and weapons.
It also depends on the nature of the threat that Malaysia was likely to face in the near and medium term.
Ayrault was also asked whether there was any discussion with Najib relating to the jet fighter replacement programme proposal.
He said: “There was discussion relating to military and defence matters, and France is ready to participate in the tender.
“But to say if there is any opportunity for France (to win the bid), it is up for Malaysia to say so but for sure we will participate,” he added. — Bernama
