Deftech Eyes Saudi Arabia For Malaysia's Handalan II

By Zairina Zainudin KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Bernama) -- Prime defence contractor, DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (DEFTECH), aims to market its newly enhanced 3-tonne general service (GS) cargo truck vehicle known as HANDALAN II, to the government of Saudi Arabia. Group Chief Executive Officer Lt Col (H) Amril Samsudin said several discussions were already held with the Saudi government and the company was optimistic of clinching the deal given the company's extensive background as a major supplier of armoured vehicles to the Malaysian government. "It (the deal) is still in the infant stage. It's difficult for us to say (anything) at the moment. In fact, we have a meeting with them on Wednesday. "God willing, we will try our best. Furthermore, we are part of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Defence Services Asia 2016 (DSA 2016) Exhibition and Conference here Tuesday. Amril said DEFTECH has invested a significant amount in enhancing the 3-tonne vehicle. The latest edition, HANDALAN II, is now equipped with excellent capabilities such as air conditioner, good seating, better stability, run-flat tyres and others. Besides catering for local use, DEFTECH has exported HANDALAN II to other international markets such as Timor Leste, Brunei and Bangladesh. Earlier on Tuesday, DEFTECH signed four agreements valued at more than US$49.22 million (RM191 million), including a contract to supply 222 units of HANDALAN II, worth US$18.99 million (RM73.7 million), with the Malaysian government. The first batch of trucks will be delivered in 2017. The 3-tonne GS cargo truck is the main vehicle used by the Malaysian army for their operations, training, as well as, for administration purposes. Currently, 80 per cent of the 3-tonne trucks owned by the Malaysian Army have been in service for between 15 and 20 years. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Malaysian Armed Forces Chief General Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin. --BERNAMA