Malaysia dan New Delhi tingkatkan kerjasama

aswandivsat · Post time 8-1-2008 09:34 AM

Utusan Online
BERITA UTAMA
8 Januari 2008 / 29 Zulhijjah 1428

Malaysia dan New Delhi tingkatkan kerjasama

KUALA LUMPUR 7 Jan.

paleface0711 · Post time 8-1-2008 11:07 AM

Agence France-Presse - 1/7/2008 7:01 AM

India to train Malaysians to fly Russian jets: minister

India will train Malaysian pilots to fly Russian fighter jets as part of a pact to upgrade defence cooperation, Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Monday.

In talks with Malaysian Defence Minister Najib Razak, they also agreed to hold joint military exercises and strengthen joint efforts to combat regional terrorism.

Antony said the Indian air force and private aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. would train Malaysian pilots and technicians on the operation and maintenance of Russian Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets.

"As part of the joint efforts of the two sides to intensify our bilateral defence cooperation, the Indian air force ... (will) undertake the training of Royal Malaysian air force pilots and technicians," he said in a statement.

Malaysia signed a deal with Russia in 2003 to purchase 18 Sukhoi 30-MKM aircraft. Six of the jets are currently in service, and the pilots have been trained in Russia, according to the defence ministry.

Antony, who is on a three-day visit to Malaysia, said that India and Malaysia had a shared interest in countering terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and in protecting maritime traffic.

In recent years, India and Malaysia have developed a strong bilateral relationship encompassing trade, education, diplomacy and defence.

paleface0711 · Post time 8-1-2008 11:10 AM

Agence France-Presse - 1/7/2008 10:12 AM

India and Malaysia seek closer ties

India is training Malaysian pilots to fly Russian fighter jets as part of a pact to upgrade defence cooperation, ministers from both sides said Monday, as the two nations seek closer ties.

Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony said after talks with Malaysian Defence Minister Najib Razak that they also agreed to hold joint military exercises and strengthen efforts to combat regional terrorism.

Malaysia said it is also looking at having India help train its naval personnel to operate its two new French submarines.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said that Antony's visit -- part of India's campaign to cement relations with Southeast Asian allies -- did not touch on the contentious issue of a crackdown on ethnic Indian activists here.

"India wants to broaden ties and on the political side, there is no problem," he told reporters, despite Indian premier Manmohan Singh voicing concern over heavy-handed treatment of ethnic Indian protesters.

"(Antony) did not raise the issue of ethnic Indians in Malaysia. They understand the situation better," Syed Hamid said.

Malaysia's ethnic Indians, who make up eight percent of the population, held unprecedented protests in November to complain about discrimination at the hands of Muslim Malays, who dominate the population and the government.

Syed Hamid said that Indian companies were also keen to play a greater role in Malaysia and that last year two-way trade reached eight billion US dollars.

He added that the two nations' leaders were keen to complete a fledgling free-trade agreement, which is due to begin being negotiated this month, as soon as possible.

"Both the ministers hoped that this understanding will act as an important catalyst toward expanded cooperation between the two countries in the field of defence," the Indian embassy said in a statement referring to the airforce training of Malaysian pilots.

Antony, who is on a three-day visit to Malaysia, said that India and Malaysia had a shared interest in countering terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and in protecting maritime traffic.

In recent years India and Malaysia have developed a strong bilateral relationship encompassing trade, education, diplomacy and defence.

jofizo · Post time 11-1-2008 09:48 AM

Thursday January 10 2008 00:00 IST
Gautam Datt

NEW DELHI: Within a few days of India testing its indigenous air defence system Akash, the successful trials have generated curiosity in the region.

The first queries about the effectiveness of the system came from Malaysia. Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday said that the Malaysians were closely following the trials of Akash and have shown keen interest in the surface-to-air missile.

Antony, who was in Malaysia earlier this week, said that the Ministry of Defence will look positively into any proposal of sharing the technology with friendly countries. The officials will now follow up on the proposal from Malaysia, he said.

The Defence Minister, who inaugurated the Defence Research and Development Organisation抯 golden jubilee celebrations, stressed on indigenous development of strategic programmes. "Nobody will give us strategic technology," he said, adding that the DRDO抯 role becomes crucial in developing stragtegic technologies.

He said that the thrust is on aggressive indigenisation of weapon systems but at the same time in certain specialised areas help of the industry can be taken. But defence scientists said that while indigenisation would be key to the strategic programmes, the DRDO will encourage foreign collaborations on other projects.

For instance, DRDO is looking for foreign partners to enhance the capability of Kaveri jet engine which will be used in Light Combat Aircraft. The Kaveri project has been going on for several years. DRDO chief M.Natrajan on Wednesday said that it is progressing well. But as the requirements for LCA have grown, the DRDO is looking for foreign collaborators. A technical evaluation committee will go through the process and sign up the agreement, he said. The DRDO is hoping that the engine would be ready by 2011.

The Akash missile system, which will be inducted into the Indian Air Force, will provide air defence cover for key installations like nuclear power plants, harbours, ports and airports. The air defence system can track and destroy enemy fighter aircraft, sub-sonic cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at a height of 25 km.

The Indian scientists have claimed that the Akash system is on par with platforms offered by other countries like the US in terms of performance and price. The decision to pass on the system to foreign countries will be taken at the highest level even as the MoD has been positive about the move.

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