That title should come with a question mark but it seems that putting a title with a question mark is not good journalism. Ah well ... we are not journalist and for once, let's try put this poser without a question mark.
Defense Minister, Dato Hishamuddin Hussein Onn was in Kota Kinabalu yesterday to complete his 3 day tour. He visited the Royal Malaysian Navy base in Telok Sepanggar and was given coverage by NST today in page 10.
The top page news would only attract the attention of those avid followers of the military but the one below is a puller.
At a time, when there was supposed to be a truce, there is no a need for Hishamuddin to comment.
It is similar to him disputing Dato Dr Zahid Hamidi statement that previous Ministers have made similar correspondance to his controversial FB story. His name was not mentioned but he had to make a denial after the issues has died down.
It gives the impression that he wants to fight and keep the Zahid issue burning. Subsequently, FMT got a statement from a previous Home Minister, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar. Only thing, Syed Hamid said he couldn't remember signing such letter.
Supposed it was not, then it could be a bad habit of Hishamuddin to seek media publicity. Both Hishamuddin and Zahid should not have such habit, because Defense Minister and Home Minister should only speak when there are probblems.
We are not going to dispute that comment because it was not what this posting was about. There is the pro and con to what he said. Lengthy ... so if any readers need to discuss the so-called quarrel between Tun Mahathir and Tun Daim versus Dato Najib, do read and comment in our previous posting, "Was the attack on Tun Daim for real?"
As we read that article, we realised he said something which became his opener to his so-called attampt to come to the defense of Najib.
For the likes of me, that is a ridiculous statement and bordering on recklessness. It sound someone not doing his homework and lacking sensitivity before talking. He is on the RMN base and saying as though the purchase of the Scorpene submarines was problematic.
Does he know that the previous Navy Chief was the one that requisition for it?
Not only that, the Navy need more than 2 submarines, at least 2 more to meet their requirement. Vietnam has 6, Indonesia 7, and Singapore has more than us. Malaysia have 2 but marred with unnecessary controversy, no thanks to Anwar Ibrahim and a group within UMNO.
It is also a good idea to have Maritime Patrol Aircrafts (MPA) to compliment the submarine warfare system.
Navy also need more frigates, multi-role ships, and many others in their grocery list. Thus, it would be an insult to the Navy to insinuate that the purchase of an asset they need, wanted and lobbied for was a mistake of past administration.
If he is telling Tun M to stop finger-pointing on the submarine purchase, when did Tun M ever criticise the submarines purchase?
Hishamuddin sounded lost and perhaps, need to get something clear.
The submarine was purchased at a time Tun Mahathir was Prime Minister, Dato Najib was Defense Minister, delivered during the premiership of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and all along Hishamuddin was in the cabinet.
He had always been part of the collective responsiblity in the decision to purchase the submarines. Thus he cannot claim not to know.
When we saw the page, the first thing that came to our mind was the MPA but then it is not. It is air defense for the base. But, upon reading further, we realised it was not yet a closure but only suggestion.
There is no online link to the NST news so we quote from Bernama below:
Teluk Sepanggar Naval Base To Get Advanced Air Defence System - Hishammuddin
KOTA KINABALU, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) base in Teluk Sepanggar here will be equipped with an advanced air defence system to combat future threats and challenges.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the move was in line with rapid technological developments and the needs of TLDM to handle the current scenario in South China Sea and eastern Sabah waters.
"In this context, it is aimed at ensuring our base is safe. Whatever the defence system, it will be determined later," he told reporters after visiting and inspecting the development of the Kota Kinabalu TLDM base in Teluk Sepanggar here, today.
He said the plan was one of the efforts to upgrade the base comprehensively against any threats, especially in the waters of the state.
However, he said any upgrade and additional national defence assets would depend on the country's economic capability, political situation and potential threats.
Apart from that, Hishammuddin said the Scorpene submarine refit infrastructure under construction at the base was 12 per cent completed and according to schedule.
He said the infrastructure, encompassing the construction of three main workshops for the maintenance of submarine equipment and storage, was expected to reduce the cost of maintenance of the country's two submarines, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak.
"There will be periodic maintenance to ensure the submarines operate to the maximum duration of 35 years, which will be carried out by the government with the cooperation of Boustead DCNS Naval Corporation Sdn Bhd," he said.
The Kota Kinabalu TLDM base, built in 2001 comprises the Naval Region II headquarters and the submarine base headquarters and enjoys close cooperation with Brunei and the Philippines through annual exercises.
The base also serves a port of call for for several foreign ships from the United States, Australia, Brunei, France, Japan, Singapore and India.
Hishamuddin today concluded his three-day working visit to Sabah to look into the preparedness of security forces especially in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).
-- BERNAMA
The submarine base does not have an air defense. It is only part of what is called Ground Based Air Defense or GBAD and monitored by the Sector Operational Control (SOC). At sea, ships are completed with Area or Local Area or Point Defense Missile System.
Quite sure Hishamuddin may have been supportive and sincerely looking for ways and means to support in his closed door brief. Since it is only suggestion, why need to announced it already?
Why the need to talk about periodic maintenance of the submarine to the press since that is part and parcel of owning a submarine?! The Star even gave made a report here on it as though giving a hand to reignite another the submarine not submerging spin.
And, why the heck should he emphasised that the base will be the port of call for foreign ship? What does he have in mind?
Hishamuddin must stop behaving like a media whore. This can be dangerous at times. If it is not necessary, do not say anything. If not sure, do not commit anything.
Defense Minister is not a diplomat that need to meet and regularly be friendly with other Defense Ministers, General and Admirals. Any of your counterparts could turned enemy even in the most remote of situation.
Heaven sake, have some level of paranoia.
In a previous posting here, we hinted of "Lahad Datu, Washington, Yangoon and Katmandu". We accidently left out Bintulu, happen to know about Abu Dhabi, and now tempted to add Sepangar.
One advise to Hishamuddin, who is in an important and strategic position, is "Koho koho ....". When doing his job, he has to put aside his politics and public relation. The defense of the realm is about country's existence.
Don't goof this one!