SHAH ALAM: Back in June, Malaysian Defence posted on the tender for four armoured personnel carrier (APC) for the General Operations Force of the RMP/PDRM. The tender opened on June 16 and closed on July 26.
The tender specifications called for

an APC with a turbo-diesel engine with no less than 4,500cc; with a maximum power of 250hp at 2,600rpm; power to weight ratio of 25 tonne to the gross vehicle weight; maximum torque of 700nm at 1,600 – 2,600rpm and uses an engine using at minimum Euro 3 diesel engine.

The specifications are mandatory according to the public portion of the tender.

Other specifications include all around protection from 7.62mm and 5.56mm ammunition; can carry eight passengers including the driver; monocoque chassis; equipped with five doors and equipped with strobe and flash LED lights. Like those above, these specifications are mandatory and non-compliance bids will be rejected.
Apart from a single test vehicle, the bidder must also provide training for drivers and technicians as well as the cost to transport the vehicles across the peninsula and also Sabah and Sarawak.

A check on the Eperolehan website today revealed that seven bidders have qualified for the tender. Their bids ranged from the lowest RM10.720 million and RM11.644 million, the highest one. The other bids are RM11 million; RM11.067 million; RM11.160 million; RM11.200 million and RM11.287 million.

Based on the above bids, I am guessing that the bidders knew the ceiling price for the tender which is likely to be RM12 million. I stand to be corrected of course.

A decision, hopefully, will be made soon so we will know at least the company that is selected for the tender. And not allowed to lapse like the helicopter tender for MMEA or stuck like the mothership tender for the marine police. The tender for the mothership must be decided soon as the validity of the tender will lapsed on September 16.

The APC tender is valid until March 22, next year.

— Malaysian Defence