KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry will implement a three-year rotation system for government officers involved in determining specifications and procurement related to the armed forces.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said this measure is in line with the recommendation of the King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, who advised the government to uphold the values of integrity in the procurement of military equipment and the construction of military facilities.
He said the ministry plans to introduce this rotation to ensure that no officer remains in sensitive positions for too long.
"What is important is that we follow the government's recommendation, which is that those determining specifications or evaluations will be rotated.
"This ensures that no one remains in one place for too long. This means we will make changes every three years, and that is what we will do," he told reporters briefly after attending the ministry-level National Month celebration, here today.
Also present were Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman, Air Force chief General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan; and Acting Navy chief Vice Admiral Datuk Zulhelmy Ithnain.
Khaled added that they also have to rely on the allocation approved by the Finance Ministry before determining the types of assets to be acquired.
"In procurement, we have various types, but as the supreme commander, the King of Malaysia certainly has access to what we are doing (in procurement), and we will provide specific cooperation to His Majesty," he said.
On Saturday, Sultan Ibrahim warned that the nation's sovereignty and dignity would be compromised if corruption and abuse of power were practised among military officers.
As the supreme commander of the armed forces, His Majesty said that he would not tolerate any armed forces officers who engaged in corruption, abused power, or failed to carry out their duties with integrity.
His Majesty also emphasised that the equipment purchased must be of high quality, meeting the needs of the forces and the country's defence requirements, rather than being influenced by suppliers or agents offering commissions.