Tag: Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin

Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled meets Norwegian counterpart to discuss missile sanctions

KLUANG, 12 MAY -- Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin will meet his Norwegian counterpart in Singapore later this month to seek clarification regarding the country's surprise decision to block the export licence of anti-ship missiles (NSM) to Malaysia. He said the meeting would also be used to express the Malaysian government's regret and surprise at Norway's action in cancelling the delivery of the assets, just a few days before the scheduled date last March. "It is very unfortunate that we have signed a contract to purchase missiles from Norway since 2018. The missiles were supposed to be delivered last March to equip our littoral combat ships (LCS) as well as KD Lekiu and KD Jebat. "... but a few days before the delivery date, without any 'storms and hurricanes', the Norwegian government told us they would not grant a license to market the product after eight years of our purchase. Of course it surprised us, of course it affected us," he said. He said this after officiating the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) MADANI Economic Programme here today. Mohamed Khaled said the action did not reflect good diplomatic relations between the two countries. He said Malaysia was currently using diplomatic channels at various levels, including the relationship between the Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of both countries, to resolve the crisis. "Since this matter is still being handled through diplomacy, I do not want to comment further at this time," he said. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry has reportedly revoked several export licenses related to certain technologies as part of the country's efforts to tighten export controls. According to the website of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (KDA), the NSM procurement was signed between the RMN and KDA in April 2018 with a contract value of 124 million euros (RM571.9 million) to equip six new LCS ships. The missile is capable of carrying out long-range maritime strikes at high subsonic speeds with a range exceeding 300 kilometers. -- BERNAMA

KLUANG, 12 MAY — Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin will meet his Norwegian counterpart in Singapore later this month to seek clarification regarding the country’s surprise decision to block the export licence of anti-ship missiles (NSM) to Malaysia. He said the meeting would also be used to express the Malaysian government’s regret and […]