KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry and Armed Forces will review and enhance Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and safety measures at Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) bases, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said safety factors at all RMAF bases cover criteria like runway safety including during lift-off and landing.

"Runways at all RMAF bases follow the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, (ICAO) that is audited by the Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia (CAAM) and RMAF periodically.

"Mindef and RMAF have no plans to relocate the air bases or make drastic decisions on the locations of RMAF camps, so long as they meet the standards, though they are situated in highly-populated areas," he said in reply to a question from Datuk Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus (PH-Amanah-Hulu Langat) during the Ministerial Question Time (MQT), following the recent Hawk 108 crash at the Butterworth air base.

In addition, Hishammuddin said flight operations of all RMAF aircrafts were subjected to strict standard procedures and aviation safety standards with high levels of compliance prior to air operations.

Among them are procedures imposed on crew like training, skills and competency; engineering procedures that cover maintenance and airworthiness based on the Standard Aviation Authority in the country and compliance to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) standards, he said.

He said the government was in the midst of acquiring new aircraft to replace the Hawk 108 and 208 fighter jets as outlined in the RMAF's Capability Development 2055 (CAP55) initiative.

"The government has started the process of procuring new Fighter Leads In Trainer-Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA) through Rolling Plan 1 in 2021. The international open tender for the procurement was closed on Oct 6 and in the assessment process."

Hishammuddin also expressed condolences to the family of pilot Captain Mohamad Affendi Bustamy who was killed in the Nov 16 crash and prayed that Major Mohd Fareez Omar who sustained injuries in the accident would recover soon.

Following the crash, RMAF deputy chief Lieutenant-General Datuk Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan said they would conduct a thorough technical probe into the incident.

Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said safety factors at all RMAF bases cover criteria like runway safety including during lift-off and landing. -NSTP/ASYRAF HAMZAH
Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said safety factors at all RMAF bases cover criteria like runway safety including during lift-off and landing. -NSTP/ASYRAF HAMZAH