KUALA LUMPUR (June 11): Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) has denied that a 'DA424M-NG Diamond' plane worth RM35 million is undergoing testing with them, stating that the claims made by an online news portal recently were incorrect.

"Mavcom has not had any communications with the Sarawak Forestry Department and is not responsible for the technical testing of aircraft as stated in these news reports. Mavcom is an independent body that regulates economic and commercial matters relating to civil aviation," a statement issued by Mavcom said.

It added that Mavcom's goal is to promote a commercially viable, consumer-oriented and resilient aviation industry that supports the nation's economic growth while technical regulations for general aviation falls under the Civil Aviation Act 1969, which is not within Mavcom's purview.

Following a news report by DayakDaily, Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How lodged a police report calling for immediate investigation into the purchase of an aircraft for aerial surveillance and mapping by Sarawak Forest Department.

The report was filed following claims by the news portal that the plane was currently undergoing testing by Mavcom, and will be able to "fly" soon.

See, who is Sarawak's Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)'s vice chairman, had pointed out that the Federal Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), and the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) are public authorities that are not involved in the civil aviation industry and are not carrying out economic matters relating to the civil aviation industry.

"The police and the Federal Transport Ministry must investigate whether there is/are individual(s) or private person(s) and/or private/public companies involved in the transaction of this DA42M-NG Diamond plane.

"Investigate also what is/are their arrangements with the federal MNRE and the FDS in supplying this allegedly hugely over-priced fixed-wing four-seater Diamond plane," he was quoted as saying.

The aircraft was purchased under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), under the MNRE, and the state forest department has reasoned that the cost of the four-seat aircraft, plus sophisticated equipment, would reach RM35 million.

See believed that the purported purchase of the plane using the allocation of MNRE and that it will be parked under FDS is irregular and illegal while the price of RM35 million is too steep, as the price range of various models of Diamond aircraft for the minister's specified purposes is between RM3 million and RM6.5 million.