SEATTLE, Oct 7 (Bernama) — The Boeing Company is prepared to tweak the FA-18F Super Hornet offset programme if it gets a request from the Malaysian government, says Boeing’s Asia Pacific Integrated Defense Systems vice president of business development Mark E. Kronenberg.
“If the Government of Malaysia wants to come back and change the priorities within the overall offset programme, we’ll agree with them,” he told Bernama in an interview during Boeing’s Asia Pacific Media Tour here recently.
The offset programme covers areas of interest to the Malaysian government. Its components include biotechnology, health and industrial collaboration between Malaysian industries and Boeing companies.
Kronenberg said although it has been more than two years since Boeing made an offer for the fighter jets, including the offset programme, the company has yet to receive a confirmed order from the Malaysian government.
Malaysia, which is trying to cut further its budget deficit, had put on hold its plan to acquire the FA-18F.
On a positive note, he said the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Ministry of Defence had last week indicated their continued interest for the Super Hornet jets but the only thing holding them back was getting funds for the purchase.
“I think they are looking at the Ninth Malaysia Plan for the funding,” he said.
The Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) that charts Malaysia’s economic development over a five-year period between 2006 and 2010, is due to be released next year.
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_business.php?id=159492
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October 8, 2005 at 11:15 am