YANG di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has directed the Defence Ministry (MINDEF) to cancel plans to acquire ageing Black Hawk helicopters, warning against repeating past mistakes like the purchase of second-hand SkyHawks.
Calling such aircraft “flying coffins”, His Majesty criticised the presence of agents and former generals acting as “salesmen” in defence procurement, which he said inflated costs and wasted public funds.
“Do not repeat the past mistake when we bought second-hand SkyHawk aircraft. Do we want to put our pilots into ‘flying coffins’? Think about it yourselves.
“I believe all this is happening because the MINDEF is full of ‘agents’ or former generals who have become ‘salesmen’. Even textile-selling companies are trying to come in and sell drones.
“If every procurement must go through middlemen’s prices, then the allocation will never be enough. So don’t try to fool me. If you don’t want to listen to my advice, after this I will not speak up anymore,” His Majesty decreed.
The King stressed that defence spending must avoid middlemen and uphold safety. His remarks came at the 60th anniversary parade of the Special Service Regiment, following recent delays and cancellations in Black Hawk leasing contracts. — Aug 16, 2025
Main photo credit: NST
