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India, Malaysia to promote defence cooperation
KUALA LAMPUR, Feb 2 Malaysia and India Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote defence cooperation that analysts said would pave the way for Kuala Lumpur to buy Russian Mig-29 fighter aircraft. reports AFP.
Malaysian Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak said the memorandum ,would provide an umbrella for cooperation In maintaining similar aircraft and equipment used by the two countries.
"With this MOU we hope that India, with its long experience and knowledge In defence-related matters will assist Malaysia In areas such as military training, logistical support and possible Joint ven-
tures in the defence industry," Najib said.
Indian Defence Minister Shared Pawar, who signed the MOU with Najib said India had gained considerable experience in defence research which ft would be happy to provide Malaysia.
"Although the cold war has ended, fresh tensions have erupted. We need to ensure that these do not impinge adversely on our respective regions, Pawar said.
Najib told reporters that the Malaysian government had not yet decided whether to buy the Mfg-29 but defence analysts said the signing of the MOU signalled that a purchase was Imminent.
Official sources said that Malaysia Is close to announcing the purchase of 30 Mlg-29s and six MI-24 hind helicopter gunships from Russia In a deal worth more than 500 million US dollars.
The Russian news agency Interfax quoted sources as saying in Moscow 1n December that Russia had effectively reached an agreement with Malaysia for the sale of up to 30 Mig-29s.
Malaysian armed forces chief Yaacob Mohammed Zain said recently that the government decision whether to buy about 30 of the fighters would depend on whether India was prepared to provide technical expertise.
Yaacob said India was the ^nly Asian country which ex-
tensively used Russian fighters and had adequate supply of spare parts and maintenance expertise.
A Malaysian purchase would give Moscow a significant foothold in the Association of South East Asian Nations profitable market for arrtiaments. analysts said.
Official sources said Russia's European and US competitors were however trying go convince Malaysia that the Mig option was flawed.
They said the United States had offered to sell about 30 F-16 fighter jets to Malaysia at very competitive prices' while France has reportedly offered to sell an unspecified number of Mirage 2000 Rafale aircraft.