MELAKA: Any decision to ground the use of Hawk 108 air fighter jets following the aircraft crash in Penang will be determined by the Armed Forces and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chiefs, says Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
The Defence Minister said the decision must also be based on the outcome of the special investigative board.
"It is not a decision that should be made by me. It must come from the Armed Forces and the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
"I believe that the Armed Forces and Air Force chiefs can update me on the need to use the Hawk 108 jets," he told a press conference here Wednesday (Nov 17).
He was accompanied by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
During the incident, an RMAF officer was killed and another injured when their aircraft crashed during a training exercise at Teluk Ayer Tawar base.
The officer who was killed in the Tuesday (Nov 16) night crash was identified as Kapt Mohamad Affendi Bustamy.
His co-pilot, who was injured, and is now hospitalised at Seberang Jaya Hospital has been identified as Major Mohd Fareez Omar.
Hishammuddin said that the Hawk 108 jet squadron was still functioning and on night training.
"I did not receive any report related to the squadron itself.
"But for that particular Hawk 108 jet, we have to wait until the results of the probe is completed," he said.
In a separate statement, Hishammuddin said he has ordered the Armed Forces and the RMAF to form a special investigative board to identify the cause of the crash and update him and the public from time to time.
He also instructed the Air Force deputy commander to go to the location of the crash and visit the officer who was currently being treated for his injuries at Seberang Jaya Hospital, Penang.
"I was informed that Major Mohd Fareez is in stable condition," added Hishammuddin.
Meanwhile, the remains of the late Kapt Mohamad Affendi will be buried at the Muslim cemetery in Muadzam Shah, Pahang.
"The management of the burial will be done by the Butterworth and Kuantan airbases," he said.
