PUTRAJAYA: The actual value of a piece of F5-E jet engine belonging to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) based on the purchase contract in 1972 is RM303,570, including the afterburner, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.He said that an aircraft fixed with two of such engines at that time would have the value of between RM3.895 million and RM28.047 million.
“I would like to stress that the contract to purchase (the two missing F-5E engines) was made in 1972.
“At that time, the engine’s price, including the afterburner, was USD121,428 each and based on the dollar-ringgit exchange rate at that time, the price was RM303,570,” he told reporters when asked on the actual value of the engine which was previously reported to be about RM50 million each.
Ahmad Zahid said the RM50 million estimation was not made by the Defence Ministry nor by any of those involved in the investigations.
The RM50 million figure could have been originated from other parties who made the valuation based on the current price of a new engine, he said.
He also said that the ministry took a long time to clarify the engine’s price due to procedural matters.
“We need to carry out internal investigations and this requires time to obtain all the information and related documents,” he said.
He also said that there should not be any prejudice over the court process on the issue, saying it was wrong to assume that only small fries were prosecuted in the case.
On Wednesday a RMAF personnel and a company director were charged in the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court over the missing F-5E engines belonged to the RMAF. – Bernama