The king recently ordered the government to halt a deal for Black Hawk helicopters and rebuked “agents” and “salesmen” at the Defence Ministry over past mistakes in procurement. KUALA LUMPUR: A recent rebuke by Malaysia's king has brought into focus an open secret in the country’s defence procurement: The role of middlemen. These agents are at the heart of a system that can lead to inflated prices and, together with other factors, can compromise the military readiness of the country, said