Ikmal Hisham said the allegation by PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli was a lie meant to taint his image.

He said in a statement that “as the deputy defence minister, I have no authority (to award contracts)”.

The defence ministry had determined that procedures relating to the procurement of assets was handled by “the customer” (meaning the army, navy or air force) before the matter is brought up to the Economic Planning Unit, the Prime Minister’s Department and the finance minister for approval.

Ikmal Hisham said he had lodged a police report against Rafizi and would leave it to the authorities to investigate.

“I am prepared to cooperate with any investigating agency, especially the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission,” he said.

Rafizi had alleged on Tuesday that the procurement of the howitzers, involving a sum of RM854 million, was awarded directly to a company that had just been established two years before.

He said the company was jointly owned by the deputy minister’s wife and son.