PAS is perplexed as to how two jet engines worth RM100 million belonging to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) could have been stolen with such ease.

idris ahmad pas information chief In a statement today, the Islamic party's information chief Idris Ahmad said the shameful incident has left PAS both disappointed and concerned.

"Is our national security so weak?" he asked.

"Jet engines cannot be placed in a matchbox, so how was it possible to cart away such large engines so easily?"

Furthermore, he said the culprits managed to ship the stolen engines abroad, and did "not sell them to a local scrap metal dealer".

Idris said PAS is convinced that a thorough investigation will find the fingerprints of 'powerful people' at the crime scene.

"We don't want only the ikan bilis (anchovies) to be arrested while the sharks are allowed to swim freely. This incident has embarrassed the nation, especially in the eyes of foreign investors," he added.

Idris said the incident has underscored the importance of fighting corruption, adding that the nation's security will be in jeopardy if this "mother of all evils" is not curbed.

Jet-setting into the new year

Meanwhile, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang said the latest fiasco is an incredible way for the country to 'jet-set' into the new year.

"What a way to end 2009 - the two missing jet engines which exposes high-level thievery, government topsy-turvydom and sheer lack of professionalism in defence, police and attorney-general's chambers cast a long shadow on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's GTP (Government Transformation Programme)," he added in a statement.

Thinking along the same lines as PAS, Lim said many questions cry out for answers as jet engines are not an unobtrusive object that can be easily squirrelled away.

He added that each explanatory statement by the prime minister, Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the air force and the police have only raised more questions.

NONE Najib gave the assurance that action will be taken against those responsible for the missing powerplants to the F-5E Tiger II fighter and RF-5E Tigereye reconnaissance jets.

"Let us investigate. Whoever is in the wrong will be held responsible," the premier had said.

Commenting on this, Lim asked why the prime minister was still talking in the future tense when the action for the missing engines took place in May last year and the air force lodged a report with the police on Aug 4, 2008.

Lim also quoted armed forces chief Gen Azizan Ariffin saying that the missing engines might just be the "tip of the iceberg" as initial investigations showed that other equipment might have gone missing as far back as 2007 and the defence minister noting that "it's a complicated case with international connections".

Poor performance

A disappointed Lim said: "It speaks poorly of the performance, efficiency and professionalism of the defence, police and AG's Chambers that no proper account of the missing engines could be rendered although the theft took place two or three years ago, with Azizan only able to talk about the theft as 'tip of the iceberg' but unable to identify the rest of the iceberg.

"On the one hand, Azizan said the armed forces has launched a full audit of its assets following the loss of the jet engines, but the defence minister said he has left it to the police to investigate if other equipment is missing from military bases nationwide."

lim kit siang on conversion case 210409 03 In view of the different statements, Lim queried who will be responsible for conducting a full audit of all the military assets - the armed forces or the police.

He also noted that Najib was the defence minister when the theft took place, "which creates a frightening picture of a government of thieves".

"Malaysians are entitled to a full, uncensored and unvarnished account of the missing engines, why the various authorities seem to be super-slow in their remedial responses, including the AG's Chambers in prosecuting the culprits concerned.

"No 'ifs' and 'buts' - a full statement of the latest government scandal should be made either by Najib or Zahid or public confidence in Najib's GTP will suffer a grievous blow even before its official launch."