Sukhoi Jet Purchase Is For RMAF Modernisation, Says Najib. Is This Completely True?

How wrong could so many of you folks have been? Shame on all of you! Trying to insinuate that there is an ulterior motive to the noble and strategic purchase of these Russian jets. Don't you lot have even a little regret to so unfairly and unjustly blame of all people our Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who is also Defence Minister of trying to make a quick buck in the form of kickbacks? Some of you fibbers even put the figure (the kickbacks) at hundreds of millions of RM.

What is it with you chaps? Do you dislike our beloved DPM so much? Just recently PKR's Tian Chua tried to pass off a doctored photo of Datuk Seri with Altantuya and Razak Baginda, but thank God the opposition leader was caught out. But this persistent rumour spread and kept alive by some of you irresponsible folks that there is more to this Sukhoi purchase than meets the eye is intolerable. There is absolutely no truth at all to it. In fact our well respected DPM has spoken in Parliament and has clearly stated that the purchase of the Su-30MKM jet fighters is part of the modernisation of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in safeguarding the nation's air space. If you don't believe me please read the following Bernama report below and repent.

The purchase of 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets does not mean that the nation's security is under threat, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

Najib, who is also Defence Minister, said although the nation was not under any major threat, due to prevailing uncertainties the Malaysian armed forces had to take the necessary precautions against subversive elements that could disrupt peace in the country.

"The purchase of the Su-30MKM jet fighters is part of modernisation of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in safeguarding the nation's air space. This has to do with the Air Power Doctrine that outlines strategies in protecting the nation's interest," he added in his reply to Bernard S. Maraat (BN-Pensiangan) in the Dewan Rakyat here today.

Najib said the aim of making the Malaysian armed forces a conventional unit that was balanced, versatile and credible was the basis for a balanced force development in enhancing the nation's defence capability. He said this included manpower, equipment and weaponry based on the nation's defence policy and security strategy.

He added that the defence development strategy was towards enhancing current combat and military operation capabilities as well as planning for future modernisation and security operational needs including those on a joint and interoperable basis.

To a supplementary question from Maraat on the operation manual and training in handling the Sukhoi jet fighters, Najib said the RMAF had no problems with these as the pilots were being given training.

"At the moment, four fighter jet pilots are being trained in Russia, while 117 technicians and other officers are undergoing training in India," he said.

The agreement for the purchase of the Su-30MKM jet fighters costing US$900 million (RM3.42 billion) was officially signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Malaysia in May 2003.

***** So there you are. Everything is above board. Never mind if a few ungrateful so-called aviation experts too have cast doubt on the purchase. They are probably part of the subversive elements which our patriotic and honest DPM was referring to. And please don't forget that this deal is actually a bargain. For a mere RM3.42 billion we're not only getting the most modern fighter jets in the world, we also very cleverly managed to strike a deal to get one of our astronauts into space for free! Smart huh?
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