A coalition of 34 NGOs wants the national defence budget to be slashed to below one percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), as stipulated in it 20-point demand to political parties and candidates for the coming general election.

"(Just) because Singapore is spendingfour percent of its GDP on arms, it doesn't mean that we need to spend four or five percent.

NONE "It will be no end (to arms spending)," one of the demand's endorsees, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) director Kua Kia Soong ( left ), told a press conference.

He was speaking at the launch of ‘The Malaysian Civil Society's GE13 Demands' in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Kua said such a move was crucial to promoting a culture of peace and disarmament within the Southeast Asian countries.

According to World Bank's statistics , Malaysia spent 1.6 percent of its GDP on the military in 2010.

Aside from cutting back on defence expenditure, Kua also urged the setting up a parliamentary defence committee, chaired by an opposition MP, to scrutinise the defence budget.

"The Barisan Nasional should not monopolise (chairing parliamentary committees)."

Sub-purchase of zero value

NONE He also slammed the government's lavish defence spending, saying it was not worth the returns judging from the current armed crisis in Sabah.

"The most expensive procurements have been the two (Scorpene) submarines worth RM7 billion. What role did the submarines play in Lahad Datu?" Kua asked

He was referring to the 'Royal Sulu Army' intrusion into Lahad Datu and Semporna, in which eight Malaysian police personnel were killed during their first encounter.

Kua, who has authored several books on Malaysian defence, argued that the police in the Lahad Datu should be given good quality helmets and bullet-proof vests.

He also made a case for doing away with the People Voluntary Corps or Rela.

The power to arrest and carry arms, he added, must be restricted to professionally-trained law enforcement officers and not to Rela volunteers.