Page 14 - DSA 2024 - DAY 3 | DAILY NEWS

Cendana Auto Hopes to Pique carrier vehicles. We are currently finishing
our production line for these 30 vehicles
which will be delivered before August
Malaysian Army Interest with this year.

Magatti, Vektor Apart from mortar transport vehicles, we
have also delivered 49 weapons trans-
port units which can be equipped with
manually-operated machine guns, AGL
Shahrinoldin Othman, Head of R&D and (Automatic Grenade Launcher), and an-

Manufacturing, Cendana Auto, talks about the ti-tank guided missiles (ATGM).
company’s goals for the Malaysian domestic market What can you tell me about your latest

and its willingness to collaborate with companies from development?
other Southeast Asian countries These two vehicles we are showcasing
are our newest vehicles. The black one
is called Magatti, which was actually
launched by the Malaysian defense min-
ister on the opening day of the show.
The tan-colored one is a troop transport-
er called Vektor, which was launched
by the Chief of the Malaysian Armed
Forces, also on the first day of the event.
Although there has yet to be an official
decision to adopt these two vehicles for
the Malaysian Army, we’re ready to test
them with potential buyers if deemed
necessary.

What kind of 4x4 vehicle is Magatti?
Magatti is ideal for special forces oper-
ations although it still retains the ability
to carry up to 12 infantry. There are also
various options like gun mounts for ma-
chine guns, and smoke grenade launch-
ers. There are also attachment points
for up to four M72 LAW (light anti-tank
weapons) for additional firepower. It has
a maximum range of 650 kms.

Magatti has been field-tested by some of
Tell me about Cendana Auto, and the prod- delegation of UN peacekeeping forces in Malaysia’s premier special force units. We
ucts that you’re featuring here? Lumnan, Lebanon. 20 units have been sent hope that it will soon join other vehicles
there since 2021, but although the rest
Cendana Auto is 100% a local Malaysian have been handed over to the Malaysian in active duty officially.
company, consisting of a number of engi- army, they have still not been sent due to Also, there are a couple of countries that
neers from related industries, as well as the current geopolitical conditions there. have expressed interest. It is too early
graduates from various universities and to say anything as we are still only at
vocational schools in Malaysia. This also Especially for Malaysia’s domestic needs, discussions level with them.
includes those who come from similar 44 units with green paint are currently
industries such as Proton, Produa and being used by the Malaysian Army.
others. What’s your take on collaborating with
As many as 72 units of the mortar trans- other defence industries in other ASEAN
Founded in 2013, Cendana Auto was ini- porter version have been delivered in countries, like Chaiseri in Thailand, or PT
tially engaged in vehicle repair. From 2016 2023. Pindad in Indonesia?
to 2019, we started R&D regarding 4x4
vehicles with. Heard there will be a repeat order for mor- We’re still a relatively new company, com-
tars and there will be additional mortar pared to them. So we still need to improve
From here we entered the government carriers? ourselves a lot. Of course, if they’re open
tender and won it with our 4x4 vehicles for collaboration with us, we’re also will-
such as FFR (Fitted For Radio) or Radio That’s correct. There’s a follow-up contract ing to do the same with them, especially
Command Vehicles. 30 units of this vehi- for 30 additional mortars which will also since those companies are also what we
cle have been produced for the Malaysian include an equal number of our mortar aspire to become.

14 MAY-08-2024 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS