MERSING, 16 August 2025 – His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim has decreed that the Ministry of Defence must cancel its proposal to acquire ageing Black Hawk helicopters that are more than 30 years old.

As Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), His Majesty cautioned the ministry against repeating past procurement mistakes, citing the controversial acquisition of second-hand SkyHawk aircraft decades ago.

“Do not repeat the same mistakes we made when we bought second-hand SkyHawks. Do we want to put our pilots inside a ‘flying coffin’? Think carefully,” His Majesty said during his Royal Address at the 60th Anniversary Parade of the Special Service Regiment (Rejimen Gerak Khas) at Kem Iskandar, Mersing.

Sultan Ibrahim further expressed concerns about alleged middlemen and vested interests influencing defence procurement.

“I believe this happens because the Ministry of Defence is full of ‘agents’ or retired generals turned ‘salesmen’, and even textile companies are now trying to sell drones.

If every purchase goes through middlemen, the allocation will never be enough. So do not try to deceive me. If you refuse to listen, I will not raise the issue again,” His Majesty stressed.

The King’s remarks serve as a strong reminder for greater transparency and accountability in Malaysia’s defence acquisitions, reinforcing his long-standing commitment to the safety of military personnel and the prudent use of national resources.