It has come to the attention of KEADILAN that a major business deal is currently being negotiated between Sapura Secured Technologies Sdn Bhd and the Ministry of Defense, to develop a Network Centric Operations (NCO) programme for the Malaysian Armed Forces.
KEADILAN has been informed that the NCO programme is meant to integrate all systems applications, sensors, command and control systems and weaponry and is projected to be worth over RM2 billion, to be executed over a number of years.
We understand that the military already possesses a very similar command and control system, which it developed a number of years ago.
Furthermore, this project has faced heavy criticism from within the military itself, and that these concerns are not being addressed at all by those instructing the project to proceed.
What is even more worrying is that KEADILAN is made to understand that this project is being directly negotiated in favour of Sapura. We are also made to understand that Sapura does not possess the necessary technical capabilities to execute the project, and that their ability to fulfil the project requirements is questionable at best.
KEADILAN hereby calls upon the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Finance to halt discussions with Sapura on this NCO programme until a full inquiry as to whether this new system is really needed In conducted to the satisfaction of the military.
Secondly, if indeed this NCO programme is proven necessary to the military, then we also call upon the Ministry of Defence to select the most qualified party to execute this project through an open tender process.
