THE EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON – WILL IT BE THE RMAF’S FINAL CHOICE?

Got this email being circulated by some one that I thought would be good reading, since it is quite related to what the RAMF has in store i.e. the intended acquisition of new generation fighter aircrafts as a possible replacement for the Russian made MIG 29N purchased in the 90’s.

RAF STRIP JETS FOR SPARE PARTS: TYPHOONS TORN UP FOR LIBYA AIR FLEET.

The RAF is tearing apart state-of-the-art fighter jet for spare parts to keep warplanes flying over Libya. Three Typhoons, costing 125 million (pound sterling) each are cannibalized at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to cover a desperate shortage of parts. This means three jets had to be grounded in March so RAF technicians could raid them to keep the maximum number of Typhoons in the air (in Libya).

Commander Nigel “Sharkey” Ward, decorated for flying Harrier jump jets during the Falklands war said, “The Typhoon is an astronomically expensive aircraft that is ill suited to any role outside UK airspace. It is essentially a very expensive RAF sacred cow”. End.

I read too that the Indian Air Force (IAF) is also acquiring the latest generation of fighter aircrafts, dubbed the most expensive acquisition in the history of the IAF by acquiring 126 aircrafts at an expected costs of USD 12 billion.

The IAF has short listed two aircrafts after a thorough evaluation i.e. the Eurpoean Eurofighter Typhoon and the French Dassault Rafale, and a final decision is expected in September.

In the case of the RMAF, speculations are rife that the choice for its latest acquisition is also the Eurofighter Typhoon, and being the more expensive (as reported by Commander Nigel) the final choice could easily be the Typhoon. In the case of the IAF, costs per aircraft is taken into serious consideration and whichever manufacturer offers the best in terms of pricing (lowest bid) without compromising performance wins the contract.

The IAF too has the MIG 29 and in much superior numbers than the RMAF. But the IAF does not easily discard the aircraft for a new one (like we normally do). Rather they go for refurbishment and up-grades. This is what we are bad at because we have not prepared nor developed expertise to such levels where we can perform extensive refurbishments and up-grade on our fighter aircrafts. So, the easy way out is to buy, and we will keep on buying if nothing is done to develop our own expertise, and this goes for the entire Armed Forces.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

MEJ NOR IBRAHIM SULAIMAN RMAF (RETIRED) EFFORTS NOT IN VAIN

I had in February 10th 2010 posted an article in support of Mej Nor Ibrahim Sulaiman RMAF (Retired) who believed that officers and soldiers who are recipients’ of the gallantry award of the Jasa Perkasa Persekutuan (JPP) and Pingat Tentera Udara (PTU) deserves to receive a ‘gallantry allowance’ on a similar basis as the recipients of the PGB and SP. Mej Nor Ibrahim began his ‘struggle’ to obtain some form of ‘monetary recognition’ from the government dates back to 2008.

On July 30th 2011, PM Najib finally announced that all recipients of the JPP and PTU will be granted a monthly allowance of RM1000 backdated to 2009, thus ending the long and perilous struggle by a lone retired air force officer to obtain full recognition from the government that the JPP and PTU are no less superior gallantry awards than the PGB and SP. For his achievement, I salute Mej Nor Ibrahim who has proven to others by his exemplary act that being retired does not make him a discard, but still has in him the spirit and valor to fight; not for himself, but for the benefit of others. His unselfish deed is history for the RMAF and the Armed Forces in particular, and he must be honored as such.

Now this leaves just one more award i.e. the Kepujian Perutusan Keberanian (KPK) that is also recognized as a gallantry award that should rightfully deserve a similar recognition as the other four gallantry awards. Why was it that the KPK being a gallantry award deserves no recognition at all? If at all the KPK is deemed a ‘lesser gallantry award’, than wouldn’t it be proper that a ‘lesser gallantry allowance’ be considered? It is too much for the government to allocate some form of allowances to the recipients of the KPK who had sacrificed their lives to make this country free and safe?

I think the amount of allowances to be granted to all recipients of the KPK is far less that the amount of money loss through corruption by unscrupulous government officials, and let’s be truthful about this. A life lost or maimed in defence of the country is valueless, unlike the piece of jewelry that are worn by the ladies of the rich and famous.

I now plea on behalf of all recipients of the KPK for the government to reconsider granting some form of allowance to such recipients, and that their sacrifice to the nation is not left in vain. Can someone now takeover from where Mej Nor Ibrahim has left i.e. a long and perilous struggle to win recognition for the KPK?

To know more of Mej Nor Ibrahim please view his blog at http://xnuripilot.blogspot.com

CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

MAJ NOR IBRAHIM RMAF – A PERSISTANT FIGHTER

I would like to congratulate Maj Nor Ibrahim bin Sulaiman RMAF (Retired) for being persistent in his effort to get the government to acknowledge that the Pingat Tentera Udara (PTU), Jasa Perkasa Persekutuan (JPP) and Kepujian Perutusan Keberanian (KPK) are gallantry decorations that deserve some form of cash allowance, on a similar basis as recipients of the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) and Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) that receives a monthly allowance of RM2000 and RM1500 respectively.

Apparently, an appeal letter by Maj Nor Ibrahim to the Prime Minister’s wife Puan Seri Rosmah Mansor seeking her intervention into the matter finally got an acknowledgment by the PM’s Office, for onward action by the Defence Ministry. (Refer to http://xnuripilot.blogspot.com). It is most unfortunate that earlier letters send to the Defence Ministry by Maj Nor Ibrahim received only a cursory treatment, or no treatment at all.

The government offers freely cash incentive of RM10 million to footballers recently, a RM2000 monthly cash reward to the national Koran reading champion, a RM 5000, RM3000, RM1500 to winners of the Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals respectively, but nothing to recipients of the PTU, JPP and KPK.

Is the government implying that recipients of the PTU, JPP and KPK are worthless gallantry decorations, not worthy of any cash rewards? And mind you, these recipients did not collect their decorations from the Quartermaster; rather they were graciously presented their decorations at the Istana Negara by none other than the King.

And can someone tell me how did the recipients obtain their gallantry decorations? Was it not through some gallant efforts in the face of enemy opposition, where lives were at stake? And have the government forgotten that some of the recipients of gallantry decorations were awarded posthumously? Now compare this with the cash rewards made by the government to sportsmen and sportswomen? Is there any comparison? Certainly not, but yet sportsmen and sportswomen are acclaimed heroes and given a grand welcome at the airport upon winning an international event. To me they should not be called heroes, but rather a champion of a sporting event. Heroes are accorded to those who sacrifice their lives against an enemy, in defence of the country.

I hope the Defence Ministry will be considerate enough to consider the appeal by Maj Nor Ibrahim, who is himself a recipient of a gallantry decoration. I have personally flown on many occasions in an RMAF helicopter on jungle operations, and I know the dangers and challenges faced by the ‘chopper pilots’.

For the government to consider giving cash rewards to recipients of the PTU, JPP and KPK for their gallant achievement is to acknowledge their worthy contribution to King and country; and is this too much a request for the 1 MALAYSIA government?


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

THEFT OF RMAF JET ENGINES - PUBLIC PERCEPTION ERODED

The last few days, the new media is having a gala time reporting on the missing RMAF jet fighter engine, and instead of just one engine, now the number has increased to two. Just don't believe in that number as yet. It may be many more, because the bottom of the ice-berg can be 100 times larger than the tip. Isn't this the indication given by the Chief of Defence Force himself?

Now, I not going to blame anyone nor ask anyone to be jailed for the fiasco. But the many people that I met does not seem to be too happy at the way the government handles the issue, that is viewed as an act of treason by those involved in the theft of the engines. The punishment meted to those involved as reported, does not reflect the severity of the case. We are not taking about a motor car engine, but a jet fighter engine, and surely the original equipment manufacturer will be deeply concern as to which country gets possession the engine.

It was indicated in the main stream media of the likelihood that the engines had been shipped to a middle eastern country. My guess is a country under sanction by the US, and it was only upon the US having sensed that the engines could possibly be in the hands of a country under sanction, that our government decided to expose the theft. Hence, the two year long silence.

Another view as to why the government decided to keep the news under wraps at the time was because the country was nearing the 2008 General Elections, and exposing such an issues that impinge upon national security, would be disastrous for the ruling government. And to bring out the issue soon after the elections was not the right time either, because this will jeopardize the momentum that has been building up by pro Najib supporters, to ensure that Najib becomes the next Prime Minister, following BN's disastrous 2008 General Elections.

On hindsight, I believe that the government was wrong in keeping silence from public knowledge, this security related issue that has serious national and international repercussions. The government will now have to bear the brunt of public odium, and also possibly the loss of pubic confidence in the government's future handling of serious security related issues. Whatever reasons and justifications that the government has given now has little impact on building and reassuring public confidence, and this does not augur well for Najib's leadership.

Had the government acted promptly upon the theft being known in 2007, I believe public confidence would not have been badly eroded.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION