More defence scandals
Jan 17th, 2007 by Tian
I was at Anwar press conference this morning. The PC was held at 11:00hr in the Damansara Height house. This perhaps one of the last PC in this house. Anwar will most likely moved to the new office in Petaling Jaya by end of the month.
Two issues were raised by Anwar. First was connected to a defence contract, and second on Bank Negara.
Our weapon collection has been quite impressive in the last 10 years. Last week, Anwar raised several questions on the submarine deal.
Today, he aked more questions on the purchase of Sukhoi worth RM3 billion (USD900 million). The dealing started in 2003 where a crony company, IMT Defence Sdn Bhd. IMT Defence received USD108 million as commission, equals to 12% of the total purchase price. The package include 18 jetfighters model Sukhoi SU-30MKM, it means it costed USD50 million per plane. The price was much higher than the common price USD35-45 million.
Nobody really know why Malaysian government bought things with high prices. The process of decision making in our Defence Ministry is like submarine, the truth has been submerged in the deep water. (And only exposed when there is a big blast!)
During the same time the Indonesian government too was planning to buy some Sukhoi too. It seems that the Russian was doing some cheap sale campaign for Sukhoi. However, the Indonesian parliament commisioned a working group and the the purchase was considered a waste of money.
Unfortunately, Malaysian parliament conducted no such study. The price of our purchase was clearly higher than the Indonesian. I wonder the seller thought we are richer and could afford to pay more. Of course Malaysian government claimed that the deal also included a RM900 million space program.
As we have seen, it was a program which made all Malaysians proud seeing our flag flying in outer space. The only problem was when the contract was signed, some one forgot to put down the part on making teh tarik in space.
Anwar’s full statement on Sukhoi and Bank Negara.
This is all bull.
It is common knowledge ever since defence spending became a mechanism for UMNO to raise money to spend during general elections. It was a practice long before Anwar came into the picture and when he was in the picture and when he is out of the picture. He knows the details so let him spill the beans on UMNO and the corrupt leaders.
The public is not that ill informed.
When Najib as Defence Minister went to London with Mahathir and closed a record deal with the Thatcher government in the late 80s, there was strong criticism by the British tabloid concerning kickbacks given to an intermediary in the transaction. Let Anwar talk about that. Ask Mahathir why he challenged the British tabloid responsible for the adverse publiciy, and then backed down??!
The purchase of Russian Sukhoi fighters and the preference given to Russian fighters instead of United States’ F16s in the late 90s cannot be justified as avionics for these fighters are different. Now years down the line how are these Sukhois operating?
At one time the Malaysian Government purchased fighters from the U.S. which were later stripped down for their parts and left to rot in the desert of Arizona. What was that alll about???
The Su-30 outclasses the F-16. If you think otherwise you are ill-informed.
As for highlighting the corruption allegations, well done Anwar.
Dear Awang Mamat,
The point is not whether Sukhoi is inferior, the problem was who took the commision for the deal?
Tian