MALAYSIA URGES US NOT SUPPLY OLD DEFENCE EQUIPMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- The Defence Ministry has asked United
States defence equipment companies not to market old equipment to Malaysia and
in the Asean region.

Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the request was among
three points he stressed in a dialogue with the American Malaysian Chamber of
Commerce (AMCHAM) and the US-Malaysia Aerospace Council (UMAC).

"Besides stressing on the marketing of defence equipment, I stressed that
Malaysia wanted to have a partnership with the US and we want the US to have an
off-set programme that determines the procurement of defence equipment," he told
reporters after attending a closed-door dialogue with AMCHAM and UMAC here
Tuesday.

Besides that, Malaysia also raised the question of transfer of technology
and defence training from the US.

He said the AMCHAM and UMAC delegates agreed unanimously to all the calls
and suggestions he made.


Malaysia was ready to be a hub for marketing of US defence equipment for the
Asean region and hoped that the US would at the very least have a research and
development unit in Malaysia, Ahmad Zahid said.

Asked about his views on Singapore's sophisticated defence equipment, Ahmad
Zahid said it did not cause Malaysia to worry.

He said till now Malaysia had a good defence relationship with its neighbour
including have joint military exercises from time to time.

On Malaysia-Thailand border security following the insurgency in the south
Thailand region, he said Malaysia had close cooperation with the Thai army and
if there was any incursion it would be by a third party.

He however declined to elaborate on the third party.

-- BERNAMA