HC Deb 22 April 1970 vol 800 cc110-1W
53. Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why, on 31st March, 1970, the £13 million Royal Air Force base 185 miles north of Kuala Lumpur was handed over to the Malaysian Government for one Malaysian dollar.

Mr. Healey:

The base at Butterworth is being transferred to the Malaysian Government free of charge under the arrangements announced by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of Overseas Development on 30th May, 1968. It was handed over on 31st March under a licence agreement for a nominal payment of one Malaysian dollar; this agreement will operate until the formal deed of surrender is completed.—[Vol. 765, c. 2115–16.]

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