Ho-hum: Nothing new in DWP, says Hishammuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: There is nothing new or concrete in terms of policies and strategies regarding the Defence White Paper (DWP), says former defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

"It is disappointing and worrying, as there are no concrete plans on how to implement directions and approach consisting of the next ten years for the Defence Ministry, and the defence of the country," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Monday (Dec 2).

The Sembrong MP was asked to comment on the DWP which was tabled by Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu in the Dewan Rakyat earlier.

Hishamuddin also claimed that some parts of the DWP were copied from the policies of the previous administration under Barisan Nasional.

"There are many loopholes, with lack of details and many of it were copied from the previous government.

"On veterans for example, there are only five paragraphs.

"While on the procurement of assets, they only gave out their wishlist.

"But, they never mention how they are planning to implement it, or when they are going to do it," he said.

He also pointed out that there was too little time given to debate on the DWP for something as important as the direction of the ministry for the next ten years.

"So, they’ve had nearly two years.

And if you can't even do it within the two years period that you've been in power, how are you going to give confidence to the people that you can do it in the next 10 years?" said Hishammuddin.