RM34 million for ‘scrap metal’ helicopters

ARCHIVES 2011

By admin-s On Dec 21, 2011

(Free Malaysia Today) Opposition DAP wants to know why Sabah Air leased its helicopters for RM1 if it was in the red.

TAWAU: Sabah’s two new Eurocopters, totaling RM34 million, are stiring a lot of dust in the state without even spinning their rotors.

Sabah DAP chairman Jimmy Wong has latched on the Auditor General’s latest report that targets Sabah Air Aviation Sdn Bhd’s purchase of the Eurocopter AS 355 NP for RM13 million and Eurocopter EC 145 for RM21 million.

Wong said the whole deal is a scandal and the helicopters are “scrap metal”.

State Assistant Minister for Infrastructure Development, Pang Yuk Ming while defending the purchase of the aircraft, has however been struggling to explain why they have not been used.

In the latest twist, Wong accused Sabah Air Aviation chairman Yusof Kassim, and its chief executive officer Manu Sasidharan of rushing to Kuala Lumpur to get the “operations specification certificate” for the two helicopters only after questions were raised about the aircrafts’ air-worthiness.

Wong claimed both these officials had met with civil aviation authorities in Putrajaya on Dec 6.

Wong said that this proves that the two new helicopters are faulty. He said that without the documents, Sabah Air Aviation cannot use the aircraft for any part of their business.

“I was informed that the AS 355 NP does not have this certification and that its airworthy certification was not renewed since it expired about a month ago.

“The AS 355 NP is therefore not allowed to fly any passenger with an expired airworthy certificate. The chopper may only fly under special conditions such as for flight testing to qualify for the airworthy certificate renewal.

“If this is true, how dare Sabah Air Aviation invite me on Dec 16 to fly in the AS355NP?” Wong asked.

Aircraft for CM

The Sabah DAP chief also questioned why the EC145 bearing the registration mark ’9M-CMD’ had a “VVIP seats configuration” and if it was exclusively for the CM’s travel.

“Is it true that “9M” signifies aircraft registered in Malaysia and the remaining three alphabets is a special registration mark. I am told that Sabah Air specially selected 9M-CMD to signify the Chief Minister Department,” said Wong.

He said Sabah Air should provide the original copy of the “operation specification certificate” with the EC 145 registration ’9M-CMD’ and AS355 NP registration ’9M-MOH’.