Missing jet engines: Action against high ranking officers (Update)

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KUALA LUMPUR: Action will be taken against high-ranking officers overseeing the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) fighter jet at the time when its RM50mil engines were stolen, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the action to be taken will be decided during the next meeting of the Malaysian Armed Forces Council of which he was the chairman.

Describing the thieves as traitors to the nation, Dr Ahmad Zahid vowed that those found guilty would have to pay a heavy price for the crime.

“The ministry has already conducted a domestic inquiry into the missing engine and its findings will be disclosed to the public via court proceedings,” he told reporters after receiving a courtesy call from Maldives’ Defence Minister Ameen Faisel at the ministry office here Tuesday.

He added that those who were involved in the theft have been identified through the inquiry and that they would not escape the law.

“The matter has been handed over completely to the police and the Attorney-General has released a statement that the investigations would be complemented with legal proceedings,” Dr Ahmad Zahid added.

“However, I do not want bloggers to try to distort any facts with all sorts of speculation and analysis on the matter. The Prime Minister and I will constantly monitor the investigation findings,” he said.

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 engine, Dr Ahmad Zahid said none had called Malaysia but the ministry had received the technical details of the engine as well as other missing parts.

He said during the theft, the fighter jet was not in the store but was on its way for maintenance.

“The culprits had monitored the movement of the jet before the engine was stolen. The ministry will step up its surveillance on such movements from now on,” Dr Ahmad Zahid said.

He added that the company which bought the stolen engine had a base in Malaysia, branches in neighbouring countries and international connections.

Asked whether the engine had fallen into the hands of terrorists, Dr Ahmad Zahid said he could not confirm this but such a loss could not be tolerated.

It was reported that a General Electric J85-21A afterburner turbojet engine -- the power plant for the single-seater F-5E Tiger 11 and RF-5E Tigereye -- was discovered missing from the Sungai Besi RMAF airbase during routine maintenance service. Also missing were its maintenance and service records.

A brigadier-general and 40 other armed forces personnel had been sacked over the incident.

Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi later said it was an inside job.

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