Malaysia will pay Poland for the supply of 48 attack tanks worth RM1.4 billion through cash and barter trade, Defence Minister Najib Razak said today.

Najib said the PT-91-M tanks would arrive in Malaysia in batches over a o­ne year period from February 2006.

The contract also provides supplementary equipment such as recovery vehicles, training for some 150 military personnel in Poland and technology transfer, he told reporters.

Najib said the main battle tanks would improve the firepower of the armed forces.

"Tanks give a shock treatment. They are important components in ground offensives. They give us the firepower and capability which we do not have in our inventory," he said.

Boosting ties

Earlier, Malaysian defence ministry officials signed an agreement with Poland's FTE Bumar Ltd for the supply of the tanks.

The contract will be Poland's biggest weapons deal since 1981 and Malaysia's first purchase of assault tanks.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad first announced the decision to buy Polish tanks during a visit to Warsaw in March, 2002.

Visiting Polish Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said the sale of the tanks would boost the countries' economic and defence ties.

"It is an important day for us. It will open up further industrial cooperation between the two countries," he said. AFP