The practical need of submarines?<\/p>\n
Sin Chew Daily, Asia News Network, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Malaysia signed a contract with French warship builder, DCN
\nInternational and Spanish shipmaker, Izar, to acquire two
\nScorpene submarines at a cost of more than RM3.1 billion for the
\nRoyal Malaysian Navy. It is nevertheless the biggest defense
\npurchase exercise carried by the Defense Ministry despite nearly
\nhalf of the cost would be in the form of counter trade of palm
\noil under a counter purchase and offset arrangement.<\/p>\n
Just a month ago, the government announced a RM2.1 billion
\nbill for Malaysian defense purchase at Defense Services Asia 2002
\nExhibition (DSA 2002) held in Kuala Lumpur from April 8 to 11.
\nFighter planes, vessels, missiles, armored vehicle, ammunition
\nand artillery were on the military shopping list.<\/p>\n
The procurement of Scorpene submarines, together with other
\nthat are still under negotiation, including heavy duty PT91 tanks
\nfrom Poland, Sokhai warplanes from Russia, and FA18 fighter
\nplanes from the United States, it could not be said that the
\nsudden upshot of defense spending would not add pressure to the
\npublic coffer.<\/p>\n
Malaysian economy had witnessed the first bud of its recovery,
\nbut there is still a long way to go for full recovery.
\nUtilization of national resources should be prudent at this stage
\nas we sill have the burden of foreign debts. Priority and
\nconsideration for limited resources should be channeled to
\nbuilding of life quality of the people, enhancement of human
\nresources, social hardware and other areas which directly
\naffecting life quality of the people.<\/p>\n
Defense spending should be restricted to the practical need of
\nthe nation, and reduced gradually. Asia and the Pacific are
\nrelatively peaceful and free of Cold War and Communist threat. No
\nvisible aggressive neighbor has emerged. The differences among
\nthe member countries of Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN)
\nwere still within the confinement of peaceful co-existence: It
\nwould not lead to war. The super powers beyond ASEAN -- including
\nChina, Japan, Russia and the U.S. -- stressed peace: They would
\nnot pose a danger to Malaysian security.<\/p>\n
No doubt we should be complacent, but the only visible threat
\ncome from terrorism and illegal immigrants, which could be dealt
\nwith by overall preventive measures. The job could be done by
\nconventional arsenal and intensified patrol; there would be no
\nplace for the expensive and high-tech submarines, fighter planes
\nor tanks.<\/p>\n
There must be certain reason that the government embarked on
\nmodernization program for our defense makeup. But modernization
\nprogram is a on going business: it never stops. It might be
\nbetter off if arsenal would be gradually phased out than making a
\nhuge purchase at one goes.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the 16th Asia-Pacific Roundtable meeting in Kuala
\nLumpur on June 3, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
\nBadawi said military enhancement by major powers in the Asia
\nPacific region would not solve all problems or yield the security
\nthey seek. He stressed that overwhelming military power would not
\ndeter or protect against terror but instead it merely aggravates
\nsuspicion and tensions between countries.<\/p>\n
The Deputy Prime Minister had hit the nail on the head by what
\nhe said: It underscored our security need. Enhancement of
\ndialogue between countries, promotion of mutual understanding,
\ncloser cooperation should be the avenues to be adopted by nations
\nin the modern world when dealing with each other. Arm race
\naggravates suspicion and tensions between countries and quicken
\nthe steps of real war.<\/p>\n
All in all, we do not need lavishly purchase of enormous
\namount of military hardware. The government should consider
\nprudently the purchase of two submarines costing more than RM 3
\nbillion properly might not be practical viewed from national
\neconomic and security need.<\/p>",
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