Malaysia buys latest military equipment

Malaysia buys latest military equipment

Amid the critical condition in the region, Malaysia still can
buy military equipment. That ASEAN member country on Wednesday
ordered British and Russian armaments worth US$364 million.

Being aware that the purchase of military equipment can arouse
neighbors' suspicion, Malaysia hastily explained that the arms
purchase would not stimulate a regional arms race, and was not
intended to attack Singapore or any other country.

However, the tendency of following neighbors' steps has
occurred in the past. When Thailand decided to buy F-16 jet
fighters, Singapore and Indonesia followed the Thai's lead.

In this perspective Malaysia is really lucky. First, Malaysia
has enough funds, which enables it to buy the latest armaments.
Second, our neighbor is not troubled by the human rights issue,
which can hamper the purchasing of arms.

Thus, Malaysia can smoothly exercise and program its defense
policy. If the arms purchase is linked to a regional threat
created by uncertainty in the South China Sea, for example,
Malaysia has been ready to face any situation.

Undeniably, Malaysia is much luckier than Indonesia. But it is
our common obligation to improve our economy to enable Indonesia
to develop its armed forces properly, making the Indonesian
Military (TNI) more capable of functioning properly using the
latest military equipment.

-- Kompas, Jakarta