What a way to end 2009 and the first uncompleted year of the new Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak – two missing RM50 million RMAF jet engines which exposes high-level thievery, government topsy-turvydom and sheer lack of professionalism in defence, police and Attorney-General’s Chambers, casting a long shadow on Najib’s Government Transformation Programme (GTP).
Many questions cry out for answer on the scandal of the missing jet engines as they are not an unobtrusive object that could be easily squirrelled away, with each explanatory statement by the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the air force and the police raising more questions.
Najib gave the assurance that action would be taken against those responsible for the missing Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) jet engines – the powerplants to the F-5E Tiger II fighter and RF-5E Tigereye reconnaissance jets – saying: “Let us investigate. Whoever is in the wrong will be held responsible.”
Why is the Prime Minister still talking in the future tense, when the action for the missing RMAF jet engines took place in May last year, and RMAF had lodged a report with the police on Aug 4 last year?
Armed Forces Chief Gen Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin said last Friday that the missing RMAF jet engines might just be the “tip of the iceberg” as initial investigations showed that other equipment might have gone missing as far back as 2007.
And Zahid said in Banting on Sunday that the engines went missing “about three years ago” and that “It’s a complicated case with international connections”.
Its speak poorly of the performance, efficiency and professionalism of the defence, police and Attorney-General’s Chambers that no proper account of the missing RM50 million RMAF jet engine could be rendered although the theft took place two or three years ago, with Azizan only able to talk about the theft as “tip of the iceberg” but unable to identify the rest of the iceberg.
On the one hand, Azizan said that the armed forces has launched a full audit of its assets following the loss of the jet engines, but in Banting the Defence Minister said he left it to the police to investigate if there was other equipment missing from military bases nationwide.
Who now is going to be responsible to conduct a full audit of the existence of all the military assets in the country, the armed forces or the police?
It is reported by New Straits Times yesterday that a brigadier-general and 40 other armed forces personnel were sacked late last year over their alleged involvement in the case of the two missing RM50 million RMAF jetfighter engines, following an internal inquiry and disciplinary committee.
Is this all the action to be taken after the two missing RM50 million RMAF jet engines, with no one being hauled to court to face the full force of the law?
This version conflicts with the account in the New Straits Times on Saturday that “Air force officers found the jet engine missing in January when they sent a private contractor to Subang to service the engine”, raising the question how disciplinary action could be taken even before the defence authorities became aware of the missing jet – apart from the question as to how the RMAF could be unaware of the missing jet engine for such a long time, at least one or two years!
Najib was the Defence Minister when the jet engines theft took place, which created a frightening picture of a government of thieves.
Malaysians are entitled to a full, uncensored and unvarnished account of the two missing RM50 million RMAF jet engines, why the various authorities seem to be superslow in their remedial responses, including the Attorney-General Chambers in prosecuting the culprits concerned.
No “ifs” and “buts” – a full statement of the latest government scandal of the two missing RM50 million RMAF jet engines should be made either by Najib or Zahid or public confidence in Najib’s Government Transformation Programme (GTP) would suffer a grievous blow even before its official launch.
#1 by HARAPAN MALAYSIA on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 12:00 am
Wahlamat..! Macam ini pun boleh jadi jutawan…!
Hebat betul…insan mulia yang jaga keselamatan negara..macam mana boleh tak percaya “Malaysia-Tak-Boleh..”..!
Adakah ini kena klasifikasikan dalam OSA..kerana mungkin banyak isu terlibat kena-mengena keselamatan dan keamanan negara ….banyak “Tuah..” akan terbongkar…!
#2 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 12:04 am
First thing that crossed my mind was: if there can be a Scorpene scandal, why not an F-5E scandal. If politicians and cronies can cash in, why not high-ranking officers too?
U see, ‘seekor lembu membawa lumpur”, semua lembu ikut juga bermain lumpur!
#3 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 12:08 am
Second thing that crossed my mind was: Najib surely cannot plead ignorance of the scandal. Any idiot would have thought that Najib decided on a cover-up till he is safely in the PM’s seat.
Corrupt politicians can be a deadly evil force.
#4 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 12:14 am
Third thing that crossed my mind was: hey Tun M, what is yr take on this? Tun M has an opinion on just about everything under the sun and beyond as well, doesn’t he?
BTW, TunM, great idea – “Dr M threatens to sue Mkini, Kit Siang, WainDec 22, 09 6:46PMUPDATED 10PM The former premier has ‘reserved the right’ to sue author Barry Wain, opposition leader Lim Kit Siang and online news daily Malaysiakini for defamation.” Kick some as###### , damn the devil and let the truth be told. Yes, tell the public know how the No. 1 ulama in this country who championed Hadhari can squander RM270 million in such a brief short number of years. Tun, it really makes you envious that Pak Lah may have broken yr record. So, tell the world before u take all this damned information with you to the other shores of eternity.
#5 by monsterball on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 12:44 am
After12th GE…notice so many top secrets exposed?
You can see …UMNO is divided….and may do not really respect Najib at all ..in UMNO….as he is not making any progress to win votes…inspite if all his slogans.
Najib is not in control. He has to keep talking kok…to protect himself.
This is so shameful to read….stealing properties that are to defend our country and Malaysians.
This is not thief. This is treason.
But the will treated likely..sack some for show….as they are still loyal UMNO members and die hard UMNO voters.
Observe justice at it’s best by UMNO.
In all other countries that value dignity and responsibilities…the Min Of Defense will kill himself or resign.
Here..is always from bottom…never from the top…by UMNO government.
Why like that?…easy to understand.
#6 by Onlooker Politics on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 1:10 am
“It is reported by New Straits Times yesterday that a brigadier-general and 40 other armed forces personnel were sacked late last year over their alleged involvement in the case of the two missing RM50 million RMAF jetfighter engines, following an internal inquiry and disciplinary committee.” (Kit)
Did the brigadier-general and 40 other armed forces personnel have to go through a fair trial in martial court? If they had never been court-martialled yet, why would the purpose of having military police in the armed forces? If the theft was to happen in Taiwan during the era of Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek, the brigadier-general and 40 others would most likely be sentenced to death by free counts of gun shot until their bodies collapse to the floor. Does Malaysia really have an checking system which can effectively provide scrutiny and supervision on the military armed forces’ internal discipline problems? This is something really pondering our thought!
#7 by suara on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 1:58 am
Hey, watch it guys. Now its the engines. Before you know it, we could all be standing on water cos’ someone might just steal the land we are standing on as well! And the police better guard the Parliament house too. It may be stolen from right under our nose!
#8 by frankyapp on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 2:00 am
The PM just announced that no senior officials were involved in the two missing jet engines.Wow 2 large and heavy jet engines in a military tight security area could be stolen by some junior staffs.To add salt to injury,these junior officers were being covered up for almost three years.Wonder who covered up them,Please don’t tell me some junior officers did that again. NR’s announcement didn’t make sense.
#9 by isahbiazhar on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 5:41 am
It looks like Najib is slackening in his watch.It also means his ministers are lackadaisical.It also means the top echelons of the government service do not think that they can be punished for their wrongdoings.We are now seeing a new trend in people becoming rich by selling government properties.We do not know how many lands and vehicles have been sold for easy money.It looks like the armed forces well known for their discipline are becoming glorified thugs.We have to stop this rot before anarchy sets in.The government should be held responsible for not not being able to rule the country well.
#10 by waterfrontcoolie on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 6:42 am
After all these years of easy rent collections; no one is going to dirty his hand. You can see that all those sectors that need some steady maintenance programmes would essentially fail: KTM, KN, Navy ships etc.
Hence by now, it is a hard fact that the impact of Ketuanan had taken root. Why maintain when you have to dirty your hands?, when you can sell the old unit and buy new one with payments for both transactions! This is the mentality slowly oozes across the whole nation as a result of corrupt practices over the last 25 years. It started with Lori Malaysia when they sold their new truck engines for condemned units and eventually write-off those trucks eventually picked up by the local workshops which put them back on the road for a song!.
In that respects, one would ask as to why, the 5 oligopolistic container hauliers actually failed to deliver given some 25 years of limited competition? In stead of using the scenario to learn and become more efficient, it was used to hustle all the users for free dinners and massages. Managers and supervisors would use their access to information to auction the more lucratic sectors to drivers who were willing to ‘cooperate’!!
This Gate-keeper mentality has permeated through the whole Malaysian Society whenever they get the chance to sit at the gate. Unless this kind of mentality can change, come 2020, it would be still the same!!
#11 by ekompute on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 8:06 am
“The PM just announced that no senior officials were involved in the two missing jet engines.”
LOL, monkeys are monkeys. They don’t know what management is all about. When things are stolen, senior officials are responsible, even if they don’t physically steal it themselves.
#12 by k1980 on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 8:12 am
The RMAF has 16 F5E’s where only 7 are tactically operational. So 9 F5E’s are written off because of missing engines, landing gear, fuel tanks, ect.
Of the 2 Scorpenes in the RMN, just how many are operational? No missing periscopes or engines so far?
#13 by Godfather on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 8:57 am
“Sdr Lim, the rambutan tree outside my house is missing.” cintanegara.
#14 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 9:14 am
When d minister’s eyes were on birds of d non-feather kind
Where got time n eyes 4 fighter engines n submarines?
#15 by Jong on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 9:31 am
RESIGN Najib! Unforgiveable!!!
You have lost control, failed the nation and its people! You kept this theft of 2 jet engines@ RM50 million each(?) = RM100 million, and many other equipment from the people/rakyat, tax-payers even when you were the Defence Minister of Malaysia. Do I take it that you also kept it away from your Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawai? Why? So that your chances of becoming his successor would not have been spoilt, taken away? You are indeed a cunning man!
Malaysian tax-payers demand to be informed of what actually happened and why there was no Court Marshall to bring the thieves to justice?
#16 by AhPek on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 9:47 am
The 2 engines were stolen in 2007.That’s when Najib was Defence Minister.If he says there should be no cover-ups,the first one to go is the Boss of the Defence Ministry but he is sitting pretty up there!
#17 by Jong on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 9:48 am
How much more is this UMNO-led BN government going to steal and rob this nation and its people? They have lost total control whatsoever. First it’s the oil money, now defence equipment. When are they going for the submarine and fighter planes?
That’s betrayal of a trust, faith and confidence. It’s TREASON! What’s left of Malaysia, but a failed nation at the hands of 52 years UMNO/BN rule!
#18 by AhPek on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 9:55 am
How come we are missing comments from the 2 baboons,cintanegara and Kasim Amat?I can’t believe that shame has taken hold on them for people like them to have a sense of shame you might as well believe thatcows can jump over the moon!
#19 by lowxinpui on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 10:06 am
Those who are covering up this fiasco should also be charge with TREASON.
#20 by Godfather on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 10:21 am
AhPek:
Cintanegara has found that the rambutan tree outside his house in missing. When he investigated, he found that it was cut down by Kasim Amat for sale to a chinaman as firewood. So now they can’t complain to anyone because the crime was perpetrated by one of their own kind, and it has to be covered up. Rest assured that they are cooking up a plan to blame the chinaman for inducing Kasim Amat to cut down the tree.
#21 by Dipoh Bous on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 10:29 am
BERITA TERKINI TV0
…skandal penjualan negeri Sarawak kepada Brunei telah terbongkar….
Will it be a shocking news if that happens in the near future?
Malaysian Meemanng BOOleh !!
#22 by AhPek on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 10:34 am
Then again Godfather you have got to be careful since kasim Amat is your partner,
remember.He might cook up some stories to implicate you,and rest assure MACC would believe him too!
#23 by Onlooker Politics on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 10:34 am
How terrible it could be if we were to find that the Senior staff of Malaysia’s armed forces did not hold an effective control over his junior staff to the extent that the firefighter engine could get lost easily without the knowledge of the Senior staff until a physical count audit had been done on the firearms equipment and machineries stock?
Just imagine what disaster could have happened if the junior staff of Majidee Camp in JB were to steal some rocket launchers and fire a few grenades crossing over the Strait of Johor?
#24 by k1980 on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 10:35 am
The chinaman, after being “interviewed” by the macc for inducing Kasim Amat to cut down the rambutan tree, has been found dead after “jumping” from the 14th floor of the macc building. It seems that he was planning to get married the next day but has only RM3,000 in his bank account. Therefore according to the macc, he committed suicide because not enough money to pay for his bride’s dowry.
Had Sarawak been sold to Brunei, its people would be celebrating because no more personal income tax!
#25 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 10:48 am
D guts n talents of those who managed 2 sell n export d jet engines must b praised
Their entrepreneurial spirit was in line with d M’sia Boleh never die spirit
N is crucial for our national survival in the coming decade
We must thank MMK 4 so successfully ignited this entrepreneurial spirit, syabas
#26 by lowxinpui on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 10:50 am
You believe no senior officers involved meh?
If only small rats involved this case would be in marshall court already. No need public pressing for it.
They think we are stupid!
#27 by AhPek on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 10:54 am
In BolehLand,when you mess up,you get promoted.Number one glaring example is Najib,from defence minister/DPM to finance minister/PM and the IGP has been given extension a second time (has become indispensible) in spite of the fact that crime has reached the stratosphere!
Of course the best joke of it all must be The
Chief of Air Force.He is promoted to be The Chief Of Armed Forces in spite of the fact that the 2 missing jet engines disappeared under his watch!
NO COVER-UPS,MY FOOT!!!!!!!!
#28 by Godfather on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 11:19 am
“Just imagine what disaster could have happened if the junior staff of Majidee Camp in JB were to steal some rocket launchers and fire a few grenades crossing over the Strait of Johor?”
No problems. Najis and his defence minister Zahid would simply shrug their shoulders and say “Bukan Gua Bikin”.
#29 by pulau_sibu on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 11:31 am
Some one said if this is in Japan, the defense minister has to harakiri.
If this is in China, all the parties involved have to be shot (death sentence).
since this is malaysia, we need both
#30 by HJ Angus on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 12:33 pm
According to the reports IIANM, a brigadier-general and other officers were involved – that is quite a high rank but why has it taken so long for the police to act?
Surely 2 years is enough to discover how the crime took place and arrests to have been announced – I expect 3 months is enough time for this kind of case to be brought to court. After all, it is a matter of great importance. Oh I forget – the head guy says it is a minor problem anyway.
Also was this matter reported in the Annual Auditor-General’s report?
This is not a simple case of grand theft – but an inside job that jeopardises national security. Can be tried as treason or selling military assets illegally.
#31 by donplaypuks on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 12:37 pm
YB
Malaysian Insider now claims the actual loss is RM100 million for 2 engines, not RM 50 million in total!!!???
There is also the possibility 1 engine was shipped to Iran against the UN and USA embargo. This is a shameful affair given that 1 of our Plc’s was also implicated in manufacturing centrifuges for Iran.
Can you please get our PM Najib (Defence Minister when the theft occurred) and Zahid (current Defence Minister) to issue a completely clear statement of the loss and why no one has been arrested under the ISA to-date?
dpp
We are all of 1 race, the Human Race
#32 by AhPek on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 12:37 pm
pulau sibu:
There is such a thing called ‘sense of shame’ which citizens of all honourable and great nations have.The Japanese themselves have it in great abundance and that explains why whatever the Japanese
endeavour to do it is always done with great excellence.So it is the norm to find the Defence Minister to either resign straight away without the PM pressuring him to do so
or to commit harikiri should such jet engine thefts happen there.Even in the case of bank CEOs,it is not uncommon to hear of harikiris should their banks run into big losses.Not only that the train drivers themselves will be full of shame if their trains arrive late on schedule!They will always speed up to make up for loss time.
#33 by k1980 on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 1:00 pm
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=41565
To distract attention from his ministry’s failure to stop the thefts of F5 engines, Zahid now wants the Penang CM post for Mat Ismail? And Koh to be the new gardener in Mat Ismail’s residence?
#34 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 1:09 pm
Wonder how many jantan r walking around in this country without knowing that their bola n batang sudah hilang 4 2 or more years
#35 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 1:45 pm
NR, the Defence Minister at that time, quick 2 learn fr his wife, the “women’s champion”, will soon reply when asked what action will be taken: “I don’t gossip. I don’t read uninformative articles and I don’t indulge in unproductive activities.”
#36 by frankyapp on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 3:21 pm
The next target by some crooks is Bank Negera’s reserves of over RM300 billion.Junior staffs please be prepared cos again you be blamed,while the real culprits as usual would be freed.Ok lets talk straight.Remember some years ago,when certain RMAF’s Nuricopter and training fighter jet went down tragically and later the investigators found the main cause of the tragedies was used spare parts. It just proved how irresponsible the MOD has been .It’s MOD greed that endangers the lives of our young pilots and sometime tragic death.Now genuine jet engines were stolen and I may not be surprise at all that some other RMAF’s planes and vehicles genuine engines have been stolen and replaced by some used ones.I think the MOD should make a thorough check on both the engines and parts of all its planes and vehicles so that it would not endanger the lives of the pilots and other users within the RMAF.
#37 by vsp on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 - 9:10 pm
What’s all the hullabaloo over the theft of two jet engines. Just use Proton engines in replacement lah!
#38 by DemoCrazyman on Thursday, 24 December 2009 - 11:27 pm
If our Ministry of Defence can’t even protect itself from internal looting, how can we expect them to protect the nation? They are not dissimilar from our police. They seemed to know about the case, but chose to condone it. Well done BN.