KUALA LUMPUR: Criminal acts, particularly corruption and abuse of power, cannot be regarded merely as administrative misconduct or mismanagement as they pose a serious threat to national security, says the Defence Minister.
Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (pic) said yesterday that a country will be brought to its knees if the Armed Forces’ enemies were actually within it.
He said the Armed Forces were trained to prepare for combat but if those entrusted to defend the nation could be bought, bribed or controlled by greedy capitalists, then defeat was inevitable even before the battle began.
“Substandard defence acquisitions, overpriced procurement and budget shortfalls weaken the national defence system and endanger the lives of our soldiers. They threaten national sovereignty and jeopardise the well-being and prosperity of Malaysians,” he pointed out.
Khaled said the ministry will stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to eradicate all forms of corruption and abuse of power within it and the Armed Forces.
“We have already opened the ministry to the MACC and I personally met its chief commissioner last week,” he added.
The minister cautioned that officers of all ranks will be held accountable if found guilty of any form of misconduct and would lose the honour of being a warrior.
“Those facing criminal charges will be referred to the national justice system for fair adjudication. Cases involving immoral conduct, such as hedonistic behaviour or administrative misconduct, will be dealt with by the courts and military authorities.
“The ministry will protect no one and will fully cooperate with relevant authorities to ensure investigations are conducted independently, transparently and effectively,” he said.
Khaled said restoring the trust and confidence in the Armed Forces was the government’s top priority.
“Identifying and prosecuting those involved is far from sufficient. It does not, in itself, make the ministry clean and pure,” he said.
Khaled said several key measures that would be implemented to address the issues within the ministry, such as reviewing and reorganising all procedures and processes in the procurement system; implementing digitalisation to enhance transparency and integrity in all processes and projects involving public funds; and establishing an integrity board to guide the ministry in enhancing governance, integrity and accountability.
He said this would close all avenues for corruption and abuse of power, improve operational efficiency, facilitate risk detection and ensure that the ministry operated with advanced systems and cutting-edge technology.
Khaled assured that the national defence system remained robust, fully functional and unaffected by the recent scandals with no disruption to operations.
“The misconduct of a few does not represent the whole force. Corruption and malpractice are not synonymous with the Malaysian Armed Forces or national defence system. The Armed Forces continues to function as a strong, exemplary national defence institution, contributing directly to the country’s stability, economic prosperity and peace,” he said.
Former Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaafar and former Army chief Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan (along with his wife) are facing charges related to corruption and money laundering, marking an unprecedented prosecution in Malaysia’s military history. Investigations relate to an alleged army procurement tender cartel.
Claims have also been circulating on social media alleging immoral activities in military camps involving outsiders and military officers.
