Bagaimana boleh jadi begini?
RM50m jet engine stolen from RMAF base
KUALA LUMPUR: A missing Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) jet fighter engine worth RM50 million is believed to have been sold to a black market buyer in Europe.
The General Electric J85-21A afterburner turbojet engine which served as a powerplant for the single-seater F-5E Tiger 11 and RF-5E Tigereye, went missing from the RMAF airbase in Sungai Besi here late last year during a routine maintenance service.
Both the armed forces and police confirmed the case when contacted by the New Straits Times yesterday.
Federal Commercial Criminal Investigation Department deputy director I Datuk Nooryah Mat Anvar said a joint investigation by the armed forces and police have uncovered the involvement of four locals. Police had questioned all of them.
“The four included the engine buyer, the seller and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel who assisted in stealing it,” said Nooryah.
Police have submitted their investigation papers on the case to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.
Nooryah said the armed forces had filed a police report in January.
“In the course of our investigation, we worked closely with the armed forces
and RMAF. Many RMAF personnel as well as members of the public were questioned,” she said.
Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin said they had turned to the police after their own investigation into the stolen jet engine revealed the involvement of civilians.
Azizan, speaking to the New Straits Times after attending the national-level Maal Hijrah celebration at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday, said RMAF documents showed that the jet engine should have been stored at the warehouse at the RMAF Sg Besi air base.
Also missing was the jet engine maintenance and service record.
It was learnt that no buyer would take possession of the jet engine without the maintenance and service documents.
Ketirisan sedemikian boleh berlaku bukan kerana kecuaian sahaja tetapi ada sesuatu komplot yang lebih besar. Adakah kita boleh mengharapkan keselamatan negara kepada angkatan tentera sekiranya ada anasir tidak amanah dan jahat dalam tentera?
Mengapa dan bagaimana perkara ini boleh berlaku? Enjin adalah sesuatu yang besar dan ia hanya boleh hilang dengan penglibatan pihak atasan tentera. Tidak boleh ditolak kemungkinan bahawa ada pihak pengurusan iaitu pihak bukan tentera yang terlibat.
Bagaimana perkara sedemikian tidak berlaku di bawah Menteri Pertahanan lain tetapi ada laporan semasa bawah Dato Zahid Hamidi?
Ini adalah sesuatu yang amat memalukan angkatan tentera dan pihak yang bertanggungjawab harus ada akauntabiliti.
