Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (March 21): Opposition lawmaker Raja Datuk Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad said the cut in military spending in Budget 2017 leaves Malaysia open to threats, given the current environment.

In Budget 2017, the allocation for the Defence Ministry was lowered to RM15.1 billion from RM17.3 billion in 2016.

Quoting retired brigadier general Datuk Mohd Arshad Raji, Raja Bahrin said the cut in military spending has caused the Royal Malaysian Air Force to not be able to acquire new assets like fighter jets and helicopters.

"In the modern battlefield, air superiority is important. When the air forces are defeated, land-based battles become worthless. The inability of the government to preserve the integrity of the military indicates that this country is facing problems," he said, citing Mohd Arshad.

Besides highlighting the shortcomings of the air force, the Kuala Terengganu MP also noted the cut in spending for the Royal Malaysian Navy, amid threats in the South China Sea, and also questioned the government's decision to purchase military assets from China.

"Recent reports have said that Malaysia has entered into an agreement to purchase ships and military assets from China, despite us facing a conflict in the South China Sea that China itself has an interest in.

"There is an obvious conflict of interest here as China has all the spare parts for the ships. This was not a smart move," he said.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, speaking at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, said Malaysia will continue to grow its defence spending to modernise the armed forces and upgrade its equipment.

 

 

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