RM 50 million Jet Engine stolen

[pywong]

Wow! This is raising the achievement of Bolehland to a whole new height - a RM 50 million jet engine taken out of the country without a trace and the Brigadier General in charge still gets to keep his pension.

In the West, the Minister in charge would have resigned. But not Bolehland. They have to be dragged screaming and kicking. Pink Lips reckons that his responsibility is absolved once a police report is made. I wonder which part of his KPI or KRA this falls under.

Missing jet engine: PM promises no cover-up

21 Dec 09

The government has no intention to cover-up in the case of the missing RM50 million jet fighter engine belonging to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak after chairing the Malaysian Aerospace Council meeting in Putrajaya today.

Najib, who was the minister of defence when the theft took place, said a police report was lodged as soon as the engine was discovered missing.

"The ministry has no intention to cover up at all," he said.

"In fact we went forward to the police. At that time I was the minister in charge. I decided we should report it to the police," he said. Malaysiakini. Subscription required. (http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/120276)

[pywong]

... Opposition calls for external probe

Athi Shanker, 21 Dec 09

A DAP parliamentarian called on the government to conduct an external investigation into the theft of the RM50 million F-5E fighter engine from a Royal Malaysian Air Force warehouse in Sungai Besi.

"The Defence Ministry said it would "leave no stone unturned". It's only appropriate that a parliamentary select committee or royal commission be set up to investigate the theft," said Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong.

Internal inquiries are grossly inadequate," said Liew, "They have notoriously ensured that the chain of responsibility does not extend beyond low-ranking scapegoats."

He substantiated his claim by drawing attention to Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's recent statement on the matter.

"Investigations revealed RMAF's logistics system is foolproof. The shady activity might have been carried out by lower rung staff in cahoots with outsiders," said Ahmad Zahid. Malaysiakini. Subscription required. (http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/120300)

[pywong]

Wow! Even David Copperfield cannot match this - making 55 jet planes disappear!

Hello Chief: Where are the skyhawks!

21/12/2009 by drrafick

1. My conversation with a retired Air Force General about the missing F5E jet engine led to me to an interesting story. I was intrigue when he cajole told me that there is nothing to be shocked about a missing engine when an entire fleet of aircraft went missing from the TUDM inventory. Entire fleet of aircraft! What was he talking about? I thought he was kidding and making his usual jokes about aircraft missing from the radar screen but when he said that it was missing from the TUDM inventory that led me to place few more calls.

2. It appears that via a special G to G arrangement, the Malaysian government bought 80 A4 Skyhawks from the USAF in the 80’s. It was delivered to us at the beginning of 1984. These are working aircraft with plenty of mileage to go. Thirty five aircraft was brought back to Malaysia and was used in the service. A few dropped from the sky, one went missing over South China Sea (Lt. Wahi) and the rest was used until it could not be used again. Some became spare parts. The balance (55 jets) was left in the California dessert parked under the scorching sun. It was never brought back.

3. The 55 aircraft that was left in the Californian dessert was never brought back. It was place under the management of a company in the US. This company ends paying the parking chargers for years. Sometime between the years 2000 to 2003, RMAF decided to take back the aircraft and sell them off. Our TUDM officers from KL were sent to look for the aircraft in the dessert. They found it but the shocking part is that they no longer legally own the aircrafts.

4. As it turns out, the paperwork involving the purchase went missing and the Air Force were not able to show proof of ownership. Therefore they could not take out the Skyhawks from the open air parking area. The haggling and tussle over the ownership continued for several years until it became clear that the aircraft ownership cannot be ascertained. The Malaysian government paid for it but did not kept the receipt.

5. I remember the matter was raised in parliament several years back and unverified reports indicates that the aircraft was sold to an American company for pittance. Maybe our MP’s should revisit this matter again. My friend was right when he said entire fleet of 55 aircraft disappeared from TUDM Inventory. In actual fact it was not even recorded in the TUDM inventory. Since it did not go into our books despite paying for it and having no receipt to show proof of payment, then no aircraft actually went missing. The only thing missing is the money for the 55 aircraft!

6. Coming back to the missing RM50 mill engine which is fixed on a USD 2 mill aircraft, I am perplex to read in the papers today that a Brigadier General and his 40 man was asked to leave service early. (Sounds like Ali Baba and the 40 thieves).They was not charged. There was no court martial. It appears the General and several others lose their pension but upon appeals got it back. What the heck is wrong with the system? No one even realized that the General was asked to leave until the story came to limelight in today’s news. I am sure we all can predict on why the story was released to the MSM today. It wanted to show that the government did something.

7. I am not sure whether taking administrative action is sufficient in this case. We are talking about CBT. We are talking about a missing RM50 mill jet engine that was supposed to be fitted on a USD 2 mill aircraft. Knowing the Malaysian way of wanting to settle problems, it was managed quietly the wrong way. In the meantime, everyone had forgot about the 55 aircraft that Malaysian Government paid but not admitted into TUDM inventory. Maybe they went into the army or navy inventory. Who knows mixed up can happen. Malaysiatoday.... (http://malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29175:hello-chief-where-are-the-skyhawks&catid=16:from-around-the-blogs&Itemid=100132)

[pywong]

Does LKS know what he is talking about - missing engine a blow to Najib's govt transformation programme? Hello! He transformed a jet engine and 55 jet planes into thin air! That's a world record! He should be nominated for the Nobel Prize for Science, Physics and Black Magic.

Missing engines a blow to Najib’s GTP, says Kit Siang

By Adib Zalkapli

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 — DAP’s Lim Kit Siang today called on the government to release a full report to the public on the missing Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) jet engines as it has seriously damaged the Najib administration’s government transformation programme (GTP). TheMalaysiaInsider.... (http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/47313-missing-engines-a-blow-to-najibs-gtp-says-kit-siang)

[pywong]

Missing jet engine: PM promises no cover-up

No "Cover up", just "spin" only - TheMalaysiaInsider....General and others sacked prior to jet engine loss discovery (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/47574-general-and-others-sacked-prior-to-jet-engine-loss-discovery).

Read the comments, very interesting.....

written by Zico, December 25, 2009
Since when has the government sacked army officers or for that matter any bloody civil servant for matters 'related to inefficiency and work performance'? This is the begining of a huge cover-up and damage control exercise to somehow preserve the tattered image of a corrupt 1Malaysia kerajaan. It is laughable that Najib and his co-conspirators actually believe that the public will trust their pronouncements on this disgraceful episode.

[pywong]

The fighter plane engine belongs to the military, the thieves are from the military, hence it is a military affair.

IGP has no power over the military, as far as I know, unless the military personnel committed an offense that causes injury / loss / death of a civilian. Malaysiatoday - IGP has no power over the military. (http://malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29234:regarding-the-theft-of-fighter-plane-engines-and-the-igp&catid=18:letterssurat&Itemid=100129)

[pywong]

Jet engine theft mystery deepens
NEWS/COMMENTARIES

Friday, 25 December 2009 adminK

After all, how can they be sacked before the theft was discovered?

THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has now said a brigadier-general and several others sacked in 2007 have nothing to do with the embarrassing theft of two F-5E jet engines found only missing in 2008. Malaysiatoday.... (http://malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29228:jet-engine-theft-mystery-deepens&catid=19:newscommentaries&Itemid=100131)

[pywong]

1Malaysia and its Flying Circus

Josh Hong, Dec 24, 09

When Najib Abdul Razak took over the highest political office in April this year, all major dailies showered praises on him as they had done with previous prime ministers.

Propagandistic coverage of this nature is no longer just a trend. In fact, it has become a tradition for the mainstream media to manufacture "positive" and "feel-good" sentiments at a time like this, although quite how "auspicious" these occasions really are is everyone's guess.

As 2009 comes to a close and as we look back the past year, I wonder if those "senior" media commentators who had praised Najib to the skies earlier this year are somewhat embarrassed, or even downright ashamed by the terribly overrated prime minister?

Or would they pretend all is fine and dandy with Najib, and continue to apple polish their "idol"?

Najib's political survival is predicated on an earnest fight against corruption, yet things have not improved much since he came to office.

In fact, they have gone from bad to worse as far as weeding out corruption is concerned.

Recently, a mainland Chinese family residing in Singapore were asked to pay RM500 to a Malaysian immigration officer at the Second Link in Johor before they would be allowed to enter Malaysia.

The family complied in order not to jeopardize their holiday. When the issue was brought up with Ng Yen Yen, the tourism minister, she shrugged it off for "lack of evidence". No surprise there.

Just a few days ago, Lin Chi Ling, a well-known Taiwanese actress, found to her horror that her luggage had been opened on arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, while her branded watch and accessories had gone missing, a loss totalling some RM20,000. RAM Entertainment, the Malaysian film distributor that hosted her, has confirmed the theft to the press.

Terror hidden within our doors

These are only a handful of examples that people can give to drive home the message that Malaysia is a country that is now corrupt to the core, and public integrity is in terribly short supply.

But nothing compares to the shocking news of late.

Asukhoi su 30 mkm multi role fighter jetss many have vehemently argued, the disappearance of two F-5E fighter jet engines owned by the Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) is no ordinary crime, for it reveals serious cracks in our defence system, and represents a latent threat to national security.

If jet equipment can be easily traded in such a manner, what price defence secrets?

For once, we should be thankful that Malaysia is not in possession of nuclear weapons, or no one could guarantee they would not fall into the wrong hands at affordable prices!

The Barisan Nasional government has over the years enacted a series of evil laws, ostensibly to nip any potential unrest in the bud. But we all know all this was done for fear of losing power.

Under the wild and wide definition by the BN, any person - be it the university student in the prime of his/her youth or the octogenarian Chin Peng nearing the end of his journey on earth - can simply constitute a "threat" to national security.

Little did we know that the biggest terror now seems to be lurking somewhere within the Ministry of Defence!

A thief within is often the hardest to beat without proper checks and balances.

Now that the humiliating news is making its way around the globe, it may go a long way in promoting Najib's "1 Amazing Malaysia" for free!

In no time, the whole world should know that not only Air Asia patrons can fly, so can our RMAF engines, and mysteriously so!

Najib, who was the defence minister when the incident happened, defended himself by saying that he had lodged a report with the police. What he did not clearly explain is that the thefts were discovered in May 2008, but a police report was not lodged until August the same year.

What actually transpired during those three months? Was the MOD complicit in the cover-up? Was Najib then desperately seeking help from David Copperfield in attempting to recover the missing engines?

Even if the MOD had alerted the police, the scandal only came to light last week. What does it tell us?

Quite clearly, in Najib's understanding, no act should be akin to cover-up so long as the police are in the know, whether or not the media, the public and, most importantly, the anti-corruption agency, are also aware does not really matter.

The prime minister is adamant that no stone will be left unturned, and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left), the current defence minister, has also vowed that the "traitors" would pay a heavy price for their treachery.

Still, a thorough investigation must also bring the former defence minister to account to be meaningful, and the person is none other than Najib, the current head of government who was once praised by Tay Tian Yan, a deputy editor-in-chief of Sin Chew Daily, as "self-confident, capable and efficient", someone who demonstrated the "high level of ability in grasping issues".

If the government wants us to take the Key Performance Indicators seriously, then heads must roll following the latest RMAF scandal (for there have been many in the past under Najib's watch!).

Guts and showing the door

But will Koh Tsu Koon have the guts to show his boss the door? After all, it was Najib who appointed him as senator and made it possible for him to enter the cabinet "by the back door"!

In appointing Ahmad Zahid as defence minister, Najib had hoped his confidant would do his utmost to keep all the scandals from the public. But this explosive exposure goes to show that all is not well within Umno.

On the surface, the party looks calm, exuberant and united, but the undercurrents remain strong. It would seem that some factions - led or backed by some powerful figures - had aimed to kill two birds with one stone, ie. stalling the steady rise of an ambitious Ahmad Zahid . And taking the wind out of Najib's sails.

As an anonymous Internet wit once quipped, "It's tough being a politician. Half your reputation is ruined by lies; the other half is ruined by the truth".

The closer one examines Najib's first nine months as prime minister, the truer this statement reflects his current state.

If he cannot deliver just and transparent investigations in the host of scandals - from the Port Klang Free Trade debacle to the RMAF fiasco, he does not deserve to lead the country into the next general election. Period. Malaysiakini. Subscription required. (http://malaysiakini.com/columns/120526)

[pywong]

Isn't there something known as top management taking responsibility for the actions of their subordinates?

"No senior officers are involved…only by those who can be described as ‘rank and file. We will be taking the next course of action (against them) in the very near future," said Abdul Gani. He declined to say when prosecution will take place.

This sounds suspiciously like his declaration that only 3 persons were involved in the Altantuya C4 case. What have we done to deserve a moron like this? May the Lord help us.

Jet engine theft: AG clears top brass

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 4, 2010): The Attorney-General’s Chambers has ruled out the involvement of senior armed forces officers in the theft of two F-5E jet engines from an airforce base in Sungai Besi in 2007. AG clears top brass. (http://sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=41939)

[pywong]

The Ministry of Defence has this strange ability to buy planes that don't fly, ships that don't sail, stuff that just doesn't work. And they get away with it. Now the PAC Chairman has just applied a coat of white-wash on the whole jet engine affair. Soon, Najib will clami that he has been absolved by the PAC.

PAC member disputes Azmi’s conclusion on missing engines

By Adib Zalkapli

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — Just hours after Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid presented the body’s findings on the missing jet engines, a member of the committee dismissed Azmi’s conclusion that ruled out the involvement of high ranking Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officers.

“There was no such conclusion, that was only Azmi’s conclusion and most importantly there was no discussion to rule out the involvement of senior officers,” said PAC member who spoke on condition of anonimity.

“Those present were senior officers, so how can we just take their evidence at face value?” he added.

The PAC man also said that the committee will only make its conclusion on the case tomorrow. http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/50883-pac-man-disputes-azmis-conclusion-on-missing-engines

[pywong]

These UMNOPutras really take the people to be idiots.

Najib: ‘Not as though they are F-18 engines’
NEWS/COMMENTARIES

Saturday, 06 February 2010 Super Admin

“They are very old engines... they are not state-of-the-art. So, it is not of strategic asset to the nation. It is not as though they are Sukhoi or F-18 engines.”

(Bernama) - Although the two stolen Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) fighter jet F-5E engines traced to Uruguay were not strategic assets to the nation, no effort would be spared to recover them, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.

He said the engines were more than 35 years old as they were purchased, way back in 1972. Speaking to reporters after a walkabout in Kampung Baru here today, the prime minister said each engine cost about RM303,000.

“They are very old engines... they are not state-of-the-art. So, it is not of strategic asset to the nation. It is not as though they are Sukhoi or F-18 engines,” he said.

Najib said the engines were of a generation of aircraft which were no longer frontline aircraft anymore, in terms of capability and technology.

Yesterday, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said the Uruguay Government had located the two stolen engines and efforts were underway to bring them back.

The engines were reported stolen from two RMAF facilities on Dec 20, 2007 and Jan 1, 2008.
Two people have been charged in the sessions court to stealing the engines. They claimed trial. Malaysiatoday.... (http://www.malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30062:najib-not-as-though-they-are-f-18-engines-&catid=19:newscommentaries&Itemid=100131)