PM to meet Mindef sec-gen over chopper fiasco

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he will meet with Ministry of Defence secretary-general Abu Bakar Abdullah this afternoon to seek clarification on the helicopter deal controversy.

"I will meet with him today to discuss about this and then I will let you know," Abdullah, who is also defence minister, told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

The issue was first highlighted in a letter dated Oc 7 addressed to former defence minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also deputy prime minister and finance minister.

In the five-page letter, Mentari Services Sdn Bhd chairperson Capt (rtd) Zahar Hashim suggested that the tender process, initiated during Najib's tenure, could have been a "gimmick" since the ministry appeared to favour one particular company.

Zahar also accused Najib of providing the prime minister, who took over the defence portfolio on Sept 17, with an 'inaccurate' report pertaining to the contract.

Among others, he stated that the government could have purchased the same number of helicopters, from a firm which he represented, and save almost RM1.5 billion.

[Full report to follow]