Stronger legal, diplomatic action needed against Norway, says Zahid

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia must take stronger legal and diplomatic action against Norway after the country revoked the export licence for the naval strike missile system ordered by Malaysia, says deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said such action should not be limited to legal proceedings against Norwegian defence company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace but also followed by long-term diplomatic measures to defend Malaysia’s dignity and interests.

“We cannot just take legal action and send protest notes. The foreign ministry must also take long-term measures,” Berita Harian reported him as saying in Mersing, Johor, today.

Yesterday, unity government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said the defence ministry had been ordered to immediately halt all new procurement of defence equipment from Norway.

Defence minister Khaled Nordin later said the Cabinet endorsed the defence ministry’s recommendation to stop procuring defence assets from Norway and also considered whether the policy should be extended to other ministries.

Zahid said the government would consider halting the purchase of all Norwegian goods.

“This is to send a clear message: don’t toy with Malaysia. Even though we are a relatively small country, we have our dignity,” he said.