Malaysian, Thai Companies Ink MoU to Explore Cooperation in MIVF Life Extension Programme

By Linda Khoo Hui Li BANGKOK, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysian defence and commercial contract manufacturing company MRA Global Sdn Bhd (MRA) on Monday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thai Defence Industry Co. Ltd (TDI) to identify business opportunities and further explore feasibility of cooperation in Malaysia for Mechanised Infantry Fighting Vehicle (MIFV) life extension programme. Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence Malaysia (Mindef) Muez Abd Aziz witnessed the signing ceremony on the sidelines of Defence & Security 2022 at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre in Bangkok. TDI’s Managing Director Kan Koolhiran and MRA’s founder Badrul Hisham Ahmad Badarudin signed the MoU. TDI, a joint venture between Defence Technology Institute (DTI) and Chaiseri Metal & Rubber Co. Ltd (Chaiseri), is a Thai arms manufacturing company specialising in Defence Land System for armoured vehicle. It is engaged in the business of solutions for design, development, manufacturing, upgrade, modernisation, repair and after sales of land system platform products. Meanwhile, MRA is in the business of repair of electronic component, local support in Malaysia for repair platform, and after sales of platform products. Under the MoU, TDI will use its expertise in armoured vehicle to design the best suitable modernisation for Malaysia Army MIFV Life Extension programme in terms of technical and commercial basis. Meanwhile, Badrul Hisham said the collaboration encourage the transfer of technology as well as knowledge and expertise sharing. “Malaysian and Thai government welcome the collaboration as it will strengthen the defence industry. With this partnership, it will drive Malaysian defence industry to new era,” he told Bernama. Badrul Hisham is also hopeful that the collaboration would pave way to help Chaiseri set up production line in Malaysia. -- BERNAMA