Zaliha: Italian helicopter assembly plant in Melaka not funded by federal govt

KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya did not provide RM16 billion in allocations to construct an assembly factory for the Italian helicopter brand Leonardo in Batu Berendam, Melaka.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said that such an effort was a strategic collaboration between Weststar Aviation Sdn Bhd and the Melaka state government to develop the local aerospace industry.

"The construction of the Leonardo helicopter assembly factory from Italy in Batu Berendam does not use any allocation from the federal government," she said in a written parliamentary reply last night.

She added that the contract signed between the federal government and Weststar worth RM16.546 billion, only involves the leasing services for 28 helicopters, along with maintenance, insurance and continuous training services for security agency officers over a period of 15 years.

"The contract signed between the federal government and Weststar Aviation Sdn Bhd on Dec 19, 2024, worth RM16.546 billion, only involves the leasing services for 28 helicopters, along with maintenance, insurance and continuous training services for security agency officers over a period of 15 years," she added.

Dr Zaliha was debunking the question posed by Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (PN-Tanah Merah), who asked whether the RM16.45 billion allocation approved by the federal government for the construction of the Leonardo helicopter assembly plant from Italy in Batu Berendam, Melaka, was a loan to the Melaka state government, given that the Defence Ministry is not involved in the plant's construction efforts.