KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (picture) says four Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel have been detained and several others have been identified as suspects in the case of the missing jet engines.
“We have placed them in specific places in the service and have taken action against them," he told reporters today. "They are
still serving in the MAF as we are awaiting investigations from the aspect of armed forces laws."
He said those detained were from the Klang Valley but had links to Butterworth.
He said a company here which buys aircraft engines and has a branch in a neighbouring country was also being investigated.
"The investigation is being done comprehensively and I do not think the aircraft maintenance company is involved directly as it involves a purchasing company that is based here and has a branch in a neighbouring country, he said.
"I think the company has an international network. The engines and equipment are believed to have been sent to a South American country."
He also disclosed that more pieces of equipment had been found missing and that a meeting of the Armed Forces Council would be held soon to discuss the issue.
He said action would be taken against top officers overseeing the fighter jets at the time when the engines were stolen, although he told reporters on Sunday that only low-ranking officers were involved in the scandal.
Describing the thieves as "traitors to the nation" and disclosing that the theft was an inside job, he said he could not confirm whether the engine had fallen into the hands of terrorists.
He said the matter has been handed over completely to the police and that the Attorney-General had released a statement saying the investigations would be complemented with legal proceedings.
“However, I do not want bloggers to try to distort any facts with all sorts of speculation and analysis on the matter," he said. "The Prime Minister and I will constantly monitor the investigation findings.”
He said that although the records and inventory system of the RMAF were in order, traitors would find ways and means to circumvent them just to make a profit.
Asked whether any original equipment manufacturers had contacted the government over the missing engines, Zahid said none had called Malaysia but the ministry had received the technical details of the engine and of other missing parts.
He said the fighter jet was not in the store during the theft but was on its way for maintenance and the culprits had monitored the movement of the jet before the engine was stolen.
He said his ministry would step up its surveillance on such movements from now on.
A brigadier-general and 40 other armed forces personnel have been sacked over the incident.
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