March 29,2017

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has ordered 23 amphibious craft costing more than RM9.3 million from New Zealand.

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According to a report in Scoop, Future Mobility Solutions issued a statement that it had received an order for 23 amphibious craft from the Malaysian Civil Defence Force.

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The deal, worth more than NZ$3 million, is scheduled for delivery in the next 12 months. The company had previously sold crafts to Malaysia, too.

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Future Mobility said in a statement that it was the single biggest order for the company’s Sealegs subsidiary.

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“An order of this size will help our operating position over the next 12 months and set a precedent for other international government departments”, Sealegs chief executive David McKee Wright was quoted as saying by Scoop.

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One of the major roles of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force is to be an emergency response provider and to be the first to provide help before rescue teams from other agencies arrive.

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They perform basic rescue operations to reduce the loss of life and property. The force has more than a million members.

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The force is currently being restructured to make its service delivery more efficient and speedier.

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Its chief commissioner, Azmi Yahya, had said last week that as part of this restructuring, they were trying to get as “many suitable operation items, equipment and assets in handling emergency situations, particularly during natural disasters which have frequently occurred of late”.

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However, he did not mention anything about the order placed with Future Mobility.

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According to the Scoop report, Future Mobility grew out of Auckland-based Sealegs, changing its name after signalling plans to expand into new markets such as drones and sea structures.

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As part of its global expansion, the company has announced plans to buy stakes in two companies – one based in France and another in South Africa – involved in the manufacture and sale of a wide range of crafts, including military craft.

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Free Malaysia Today