Missing F5E Engines!

source : http://sheldrake-gunnersclub.blogspot.com/2009/12/missing-f5e-engines.html?zx=21ffa6666c973b55

This thing about missing items in the RMAF, and the Armed Forces as a whole, is an ongoing thing and there seems to be a lack of effort by the people in authority and power (not just those in uniforms) about stopping them. Perhaps they are in cohort with the culprits, or they are themselves the culprit.

Quite some years back we lost two very highly able generals when a Nuri helicopter crashed – investigations found that the aircraft had engine problems and was fitted with ‘questionable’ parts. A Brig Gen, some officers and men from the RMAF were sacked after that. There were few other crashes attributed to the same problems again involving Nuri helicopters and we lost few of our good men.

Pilferage still occurs in the Armed Forces today (Army, Navy, Air Force and The Police Force) and there’s no sign that this is going to stop. We are losing a lot of RM millions due to this. Now, the recent loss of two F5E engines cases also received the same action – a Brig Jen, some officers and some men were sacked. This doesn’t help solve the problem. I am quite sure, the two Brig Gens that were sacked in the former and the latter cases, didn’t mind, well, they lost face alright but they are rich. Some of the sacked officers are in the business supplying parts and services to the RMAF! Can you beat that?

If you look carefully around you, you’ll find many senior officers who had retired from the respective services mentioned above who are very very rich (I am not saying all, I said many). Some even proudly flaunt their ill-gotten wealth. One is quite frequently seen driving an open-top Red vintage MG along Bangsar Road whilst smoking a very expensive Havana cigar during weekends. Many are seen playing golf at top clubs in the country. Some are known to have married a second very young wife who are even younger than their youngest daughters and amongst the wives is a once-upon-a-time local actress.

The MACC should start checking the wealth of all retired Generals, Marshalls, Admirals and Police Commissioners, especially those who were in charge of the ‘Supplies’ or ‘Logistics’ divisions of the said organisations other than their Chiefs, and I am sure they will find some of those big time ‘daylight robbers’ and after they (MACC without teeth) have done that, what would they do? I am quite sure, there will be no action because of the implications.

When you have people scratching each others backs, at various levels, these things will continue. So how, when and where do we stop the rot? Yes, these people have committed treason and are clearly traitors and must be punished.

I can’t imagine what would happen if the country is at war. I bet you none of our fighter aircraft; the Sukhois, Hawks, F18 Hornets, etc. will be able to fly, not because our well-trained and committed fighter pilots, including that one very courageous woman fighter pilot, are scared but they just won’t be able to get their aircraft to take-off. I think, by the time the technicians manage to get the aircraft ready, the whole airbase and the rest of them around the country would have been bombed by the enemy aircraft, bombers, missiles and heavy artillery already.

Hey, where’s that washer, I can’t find the spanner, and where’s that nut?

Let me tell you more.

At the lowest level, soldiers (including a few officers) and cooks are stealing rations, meat, vegetables, onions, chilli, potatoes, etc. Then, army doctors, especially those who have wives who are also doctors running private clinics, are stealing drugs from the medical stores and then you have stationery, office equipment like computers and printers are stolen and taken home by people who have access to them.

It’s been going on for years, before I joined and after I left the Army. I joined the Army in 1971 and left in 1979 and it’s now 2009 and I am still receiving reports, though not official, that these things which are so-called allegations are still happening and yes, over the years, as you have correctly stated, it has cost us taxpayers a lot of money. I did take some action during my active service and did achieve some desired results but due to the lack of support, I did not get very far. Besides the Army, what about the Navy and the Air Force and the Police and the Bomba, etc.? Of course, if one dabbles into this, one gets only the small fish but do you think this thing should be ignored?

Yes, there are many thieves in the Armed Forces (Army, Navy and the Air Force) and you’d be surprised to know the things that are stolen from camps, barracks, bases, garrisons, cantonments, etc.

I was never in the Police Force, Fire Brigade or any other uniformed groups in the country other than the Army and I believe, the same thing are happening there.

Talking about war, whoever is or are planning our country’s defence should be aware that our enemies have superior, much superior, fire power and the way to fight them is, given our terrain, have as many heavy artillery guns and howitzers including anti-aircraft guns as possible. Not the ‘pea shooters’ type but those than can fire high explosive 155mm ammunition or bigger for at least 50 miles, if there are any. We also need surface-to-surface missiles and surface-to-air missiles and never station our military hardware anywhere in Johore, if the attack is expected from the south and not nearer than 100 km from anywhere near our northern border, if the attack is expected from the north. Place infantry units in those areas instead. Those guns and missiles must be located between hills and mountains, where there are numerous, to use our country’s natural features as a defence so that enemy aircraft cannot target them. Needless to say, we must have a redundant, non-breakdownable, communication system. Of course, we need good men too.

All the above that I have mentioned must be in place before any threat becomes imminent. If you want to put them only after the attack is coming, then it’ll be too late.

Anyway, let’s pray and hope that this country will never be at war with anyone.

On defence planning, if our immediate and not so immediate neighbours are beefing up their defences, for the last several years, we too ought to do something about it. Don’t you think so?

I wish to add my two sen on corrupt practices in this country and it’s like this, from the worst: Politicians, Police, Customs, Bomba, City Councils, Town Councils, Land Office, District Offices, etc.

Yes, we always had and still have excellent brains amongst some of the officers we have in our Armed Forces especially those with the ranks of Majors and Lieutenant Colonels or equivalent in all the three services. Anything below major or equivalent would be too inexperienced and their knowledge would still be insufficient and officers above the rank of Lt Col or equivalent are, mostly, waiting to retire or they have already lost their determination to do things and they lack commitment. The other Lt Cols would be too busy working for themselves to get promoted to higher ranks and fight for, cleanly or using dirty ways, who gets the stars placed onto their shoulders first.

In my short period of active service, I discovered that most, if not all, of the weapon systems and the other military hardware purchased in all the three services are not the ones specified by the users (yes, we, soldiers) but were purchased for the convenience of some people and many, if not all of these people, have zero knowledge about defence planning. (I am sure you know what I mean here and why it was done in such a way).

There were many cases of equipment purchased worth millions of RMs which just couldn’t be used and they eventually had to be scrapped. Some people, of course, became very rich after that. So, the more frequent purchases were made, more people who would become very rich and some of the very lucky same people who were at the right place and at the right time would also become very very rich.

Unfortunately, this is still happening now!

To add credence to my claims, let’s ponder those past Armed Forces ‘under the carpet’ cases and issues. The ‘Panhard APC’ case, the ‘V 150 APC’ case, the ‘HK 5.56 mm rifle’ case, the ‘Mini Gredanades’ case, the ‘Styer rifles’ case, the ‘Skyhawk Fighter Bombers’ case, and many more. And I don’t understand why we must have two different makes of 155mm Howitzers in the service? Next to be categorised as ‘under the carpet’ issue is, yes. none other than the ‘F5E Fighter/Interceptor’ case.

I notice that one of the preferred or very common solution the country’s leaders always resort to is to put things ‘under the carpet’ and create a ‘diversion’ or as some countries call it ‘faking’ which are both accepted as an effective political strategy and hope that the people will not talk about them anymore and the people are even expected to forget about them totally.

Did you ever notice that Malaysia always pay much more than other countries such as Singapore, Japan, South Korea and even the UK, when purchasing military hardware and for their spares, maintenance and replacements?

Best regards.

hak55