PETALING JAYA: A defence expert has urged the government to outlaw the practice of former military officers, including generals, becoming agents or salesmen for arms dealers.
Defence analyst Lam Choong Wah of Universiti Malaya said the practice had been going on for decades and started because defence firms needed agents who understood the defence ministry’s systems and its needs.
“But, most importantly, these agents would know the officers in charge of procurement,” he told FMT. “Sometimes these agents would be called ‘cablemen’ in the defence ministry. Since they are former senior officials, it’s unsurprising that they would be able to form a close relationship with serving senior officers.”