Najib: No cover up in missing jet engine case

Husna Yusop and Bernard Cheah

PUTRAJAYA (dec 21, 2009) : Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said today there was no cover-up of the case of the missing F-5E fighter jet engine owned by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak chairing the 6th Malaysian Aerospace Council (MAC) meeting. Also present (from left) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili and Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Najib, who was Defence Minister at the time the theft was discovered, said the ministry reported the matter to the police immediately after realising the disappearance.

"Mindef took the position that we had to address this and take necessary action, even criminal action, against those involved. To the credit of the RMAF and Mindef, there was no intention of covering up at all. In fact, we went forward to the police. At that time I was minister in charge. I decided we should report it to the police," he said.

Speaking after chairing the 6th Malaysian Aerospace Council (MAC) meeting here, he said the ministry cooperated with the police in the investigation and would continue to do so.

The engine, reportedly worth about RM50 million, was detected missing in 2007 from the Matra 1 Warehouse at the Sungai Besi Airbase.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had reportedly said the engine was sold to an international company based in South Africa which was believed to have hired an agent to bring it out of the country.

The police said they had arrested four individuals, including RMAF officers.

It was also reported that a brigadier-general and 40 other armed forces personnel were sacked late last year over alleged involvement in the case.

Those sacked lost their pension and other benefits as former servicemen while others had to opt for early retirement but the brigadier-general reportedly retained his pension and other retirement benefits.

Asked why the brigadier-general retained his benefits, Najib said: "It depends on what he has done wrong. It’s up to the air force and armed forces council to decide on that. We will wait until the full report comes out."

In George Town, Bukit Bendera member of Parliament Liew Chin Tong called for an external investigation on the disappearance of the F-5E fighter engine.

Liew Chin Tong

Liew, who also chairs the Pakatan Rakyat Shadow Committee for Defence, said there is a need to either establish a Parliamentary Select Committee or a Royal Commission, on this matter.

He said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's proposed internal inquiry is grossly inadequate.

"Internal inquiries in this country notoriously ensure the chain of responsibility does not extend beyond low-ranking scapegoats," he said in a press statement today.

"An external inquiry is required not only to determine the details of this shocking incident but also to uncover the conditions in our armed forces that allowed this to happen. It would reveal where accountability for such an incident should fall so appropriate action can be taken against those responsible," he said.

Liew said the implications of this case strike at the heart of the security sector of the nation.

"No one knows how many other military assets are stolen in this manner. This fighter jet engine could just be the tip of the iceberg," he said.

He added that the external inquiry must also determine if the fighter jet engine and other military assets were transferred to undesirable parties including Iran, potentially posing dangerous global consequences.
(Source: Sun2Surf)