Interesting news: at one stage the AW101 appeared to be the shoe-in for this requirement.
From
New Straits Times
Ageing Nuris to make way for Cougars
The Royal Malaysian Air (RMAF) will replace its ageing fleet of Sikorsky S61-A4 Sea Kings, better known as the Nuri, with Eurocopter’s Cougar EC725.
Prime Minister and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced this today after a honour parade at Wisma Pertahanan at Jalan Padang Tembak.
The Eurocopter Cougar EC725 is one of four types that were shortlisted by RMAF. The other three were the Sikorsky S92, the Agusta Westland EH-101 Merlin and the Russian-made Mil Mi-17 Hip.
The manufacturers of these helicopters took part in an open international tender at the last Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show.
It has been reported that the government is allocating US$600 million (RM1.93 billion) to initially buy 12 of the new helicopters for service until 2050.
Eight units are planned for the RMAF for the Nuri replacement programme, while the remaining four would go to the army.