Malaysia's First Scorpene Submarine and Mongolian Woman Murder

Comments

Is it a coincidence? It had been rumored a year earlier before the launch of Scorpene Submarine that Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu was an interpreter for the Malaysian buyers of this RM3.4 billion Scorpene submarine deal. It is a right move to spend money on enhancing the defence system especially on the Straits of Malacca that has been infected with piracy and hijacking in this 21st century. However the spending on this submarine may be inflated which may include kickback for brokers.

The murder of Mongolian Altantuya was reportedly related to this submarine deal. A Royal Commission of Inquiry should be set up to probe about this deal. At the moment, the deceased Altantuya could not speak to reveal the motive of her killing and there is insufficient evidence of C-4 explosive to associate with the involvement of the Ministry of Defence. The truth may be revealed in due time and justice will be met when evidence surfaces through the course of time; God's willing. Similarly the scandal on the brokerage of appointment of Judges in 2002 during the tenure of then Tun Dr Mahathir has prompted to set up the Royal Commission after the Opposition actively campaigning for it 5 years later.

"Royal Commissions are called to look into matters of great importance and usually controversy. These can be matters such as government structure, the treatment of minorities, events of considerable public concern or economic questions. Some critics accuse Royal Commissions of being little more than a way to end public criticism of government inaction without actually doing anything."

Without a Royal Commission to investigate the transaction of this submarine purchase and question of C-4 explosive being used to blow up the victim, the public at large is still doubtful about the transparency of this submarine deal. Perhaps, after more evidence become available like of the case of Lingam Video which was purportedly recorded in 2002, then the government will act on it. In the meantime, just sweep the dust under the carpet.

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Malaysia's First Scorpene Submarine To Be Launched Today (October 22, 2007)

A special report by Roslan Ariffin

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=291514 Posted October 23, 2007 16:10 PM

PARIS, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's ambitious plans to have a submarine fleet to enhance the nation's defence capabilities is bearing fruition, with the launch of its first submarine Tuesday.

Unveiling of the Scorpene-class underwater attack craft, is the highlight of a four-day visit to France by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

In keeping with the world's age-old navy tradition under the British empire that only women should inaugurate a ship, Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, will have the honour of performing the customary launch by breaking a bottle across the bow of the vessel at DCNS dockyard in the port city of Cherbourg, about 350km from Paris, at 1pm local time (7pm Malaysia time).

Rosmah will also officially name the state-of-the-art submarine as "KD Tunku Abdul Rahman", after Malaysia's first prime minister.

The first of the two submarines ordered for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), the 67.5m-long submarine equipped with torpedoes, sub-surface-to-surface missiles and sea mines, is manned by only a 31-member crew due to high level of automation.

Malaysia ordered for two brand-new Scorpene submarines for RM3.4 billion in 2002 which were jointly built by French shipbuilding giant Defence Conseil National and its Spanish partner, Navantia.

The RMN is expected to take delivery of the vessel inaugurated today in January 2009 and is expected to arrive in Malaysia six months later.

The second submarine, to be named "KD Tun Razak" is expected to be handed over in October 2009 and arrive in the country in March 2010.

A second-hand reconditioned submarine "Quessant", to be used for training purposes, was booked under an agreement with a Malaysian company "Armaris".

The electricity and diesel-powered Scorpene submarine, capable of operating under 350-metre deep water for 40 straight days, is suitable to be deployed in South China Sea and Straits of Melaka.

The new generation Scorpene submarine seen as "adding another feather on the cap" of the navy will surely add more firepower to the navy to protect the country's territorial waters from being encroached into by foreign submarines.

It will complement the navy's current fleet of patrol crafts in meeting the challenges of sea operations.

Currently, only Singapore has four Sewdish-made submarines, while Indonesia is to take delivery of four submarines from South Korea in a few years.

Malaysia's Scorpene submarines are expected to be based at the RM690 million navy base in Sepanggar Bay in Sabah. The 390-hectare base is the biggest navy facility for the Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan territorial waters.

Following acquisition of the submarine, the RMN has established a special submarine unit tasked with the administration of the squadron, training school and logistics for the submarines.

Currently, a 142-member navy crew and officers are undergoing a four-year training programme at the DCN Dockyard in Brest, about 500km from here, to operate the Scorpene submarines.

-- BERNAMA