A DAP parliamentarian called on the government to conduct an external investigation into the theft of the RM50 million F-5E fighter engine from a Royal Malaysian Air Force warehouse in Sungai Besi.

"The Defence Ministry said it would "leave no stone unturned". It's only appropriate that a parliamentary select committee or royal commission be set up to investigate the theft," said Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong.

dap election annoucement 150307 liew chin tong "Internal inquiries are grossly inadequate," said Liew, "They have notoriously ensured that the chain of responsibility does not extend beyond low-ranking scapegoats."

He substantiated his claim by drawing attention to Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's recent statement on the matter.

"Investigations revealed RMAF's logistics system is foolproof. The shady activity might have been carried out by lower rung staff in cahoots with outsiders," said Ahmad Zahid.

Liew pointed out that the F-5E fighter jet engine went missing from the Matra 1 warehouse at the Sungai Besi airbase in 2007.

He said the service and maintenance record of the engine was also reported missing, and was believed had been sold to another party in Europe.

He said an external inquiry was crucial not only to determine details of the shocking incident but also to uncover the conditions in the armed forces that allowed it to happen.

"An external inquiry would reveal where accountability for such an incident should fall. Only then appropriate action can be taken against those responsible," he added.

'Tip of the iceberg'

The DAP political strategist said the implications of the case struck at the heart of the nation's security.

He said an external probe would also dig deep to unearth whether any other military assets had also been stolen.

"The missing fighter jet engine could just be the tip of the iceberg," he said. "Other military assets may have been transferred to undesirable parties including Iran, and could pose potentially dangerous global consequences.”

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the disappearance of F-5E fighter jet engine shows that the country's defence system was not strong .

He said if such an incident happened in a western country, it would have seen the resignation of its defence minister.

Earlier today Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, formerly a defence minister, said the government had no intention to cover up the case.

On Saturday, Ahmad Zahid said the engine, worth RM50 million and discovered missing in 2007, had been sold to an international company based in South Africa.