Malaysia and Dili – DEFENCE MOU

Malaysia and Timor dance in an ever closing circle.

First it was an Alkatiri brother being appointed to be Ambassador to Malyasia.

Then it was Malaysian assistance to train the now disgraced Police Reserve Unit / Unido Reserva Patrulhomento (URP). Once upon a time ago the Rapid Response Unit (RDS). The brain child of the Rasputin of UNMISET. An Indian chap who comes and goes from Dili.

Not much longer after that on 21 May 2004 Malaysia delivered 200 HK 33s for the UPR for free. See what happened to them at http://thediliinsider.blogspot.com/2008/05/hk33s-end-of-long-and-winding-road.html

Then in 2005 Malaysi gave FFDTL 32 Handalan military trucks. You know then ones… that nearly kill once in a while you if you drive Dili streets. These trucks provided via DRB-DEFTECH, one o South East Asia’s largest military equipment manufacturers.

DEFTECH have a yard in Dili. Delta Comoro…

Since at least 2005 Timorese defence types are feted at the big Malaysian defence Lankawai Arms Fair every year. In which DEFTECH is a major participant.

The don’t forget that PETROTIL, the soon to be unveiled Timorese State Oil Company is sort of modelled after Petronas – which is angling in on pipeline type stuff in Dili.

Oh yes who came in 2006 alongside Australian lead JTF 631 intervention force. A fair number of Malaysian soldiers.

Then lets not forget the Malaysian Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) being tested in Timor-Leste in July 2008.

Maybe something to do with the DEFTECH / Malaysia MOU with Timor-Leste signed in 21 April 2008 around the time of the Langkawi Arms bazaar....

There also a retired Malaysian LTC in UNMIT defence circles in Dili as well.