DAP: DON'T APPROVE EUROCOPTER DEAL WITHOUT PAC NOD - malaysiakini

By Shannon Teoh
PETALING JAYA, Oct 24 - The DAP has called on Parliament not to approve the RM2.3 billion Eurocopter deal if it is not cleared by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

This follows the party's earlier statement that the deal should be suspended pending the investigations which begins with a two-day hearing on Oct 29 and 30.

"If the PAC and Parliament disapprove of the Eurocopter deal but the government persists in going ahead with the procurement, then Parliament should refuse to approve a single ringgit for the RM2.3 billon Eurocopters," its parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said today.He issued a press statement saying that the PAC should table its report on the purchase of the 12 Cougar EC725 helicopters by the end of November.

This is to allow MPs to study and decide whether to have a full debate of the PAC report before the end of the budget meeting on Dec 18, as the Standing Orders of Parliament requires a 14-day notice for filing such a motion.

The Ipoh Timur MP, while doubtful as to whether a two-day hearing would be sufficient, insisted that the PAC must acquire independent expert advice and speak to representatives from the seven parties which tendered bids to replace the RMAF's old Nuri helicopters.
Relying on the Defence Ministry and the Royal Malaysian Air Force alone would make "nonsense of an independent, professional parliamentary scrutiny," he said.

"It is not only MPs but the entire nation which is waiting for the outcome of the PAC scrutiny, as it is playing a very important role in the final decision whether the government should go through with the RM2.3 billion Eurocopter deal," he declared.

Calling it the "most important investigation in PAC history, as for the first time since Merdeka 51 years ago, a major government contract will hinge on the report," he said it should find out if "gold plating" - the act of adding unnecessary features to raise prices - had occurred instead of acquiring more lower-end choppers to offer better availability and service coverage.

Lim also asked for the probe to reveal which local company is the middleman and the provider for maintenance and training. -- MI