Defence Ministry mulls reviewing fly-past SOP

KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry will consider reviewing current standard operating procedure (SOP) for military formation flying practice or training, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (pic).

However, Mohamed Khaled who is Defence Minister said the decision would depend on the results of the investigation into the recent crash of two naval helicopters in Lumut, Perak.

He said the investigation board is conducting a thorough investigation into the crash.

“We will wait for the full results of the investigation before deciding. Anything that needs to be done will be done depending on the results of the investigation,” he told a press conference after attending the Armed Forces’ Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration at Wisma Perwira ATM yesterday.

Asked whether the company or manufacturer of the helicopters involved will be called in to assist the investigation, Mohamed Khaled said the investigation board would decide on that.

“Rest assured that any individual or party of interest will be called upon. We want to get to the bottom of the matter and get a clear picture of what actually occurred. There is nothing to hide as we want to know what happened,” he said.

Mohamed Khaled said aid and assistance would be given to the family members and next of kin of the naval personnel and officers killed in the crash.

“We will ensure all assistance accorded to the families of the victims, in terms of pension, insurance payments or cooperative funds, will be well managed.

“There are also other forms of aid that will be channelled to the families,” he said.

Others who attended the Hari Raya event were Khaled’s deputy Adly Zahari, Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman, ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Ayob, Army chief Jen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan and Air Force chief Jen Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman.

It was reported earlier that the Royal Malaysian Navy’s 90th anniversary celebrations scheduled for next month will be cancelled due to the mid-air collision between the two helicopters.