Kem Tentera dan Pilihan Raya - Benar atau Dakyah?

Baru-baru ini, pasukan Recon DAP telah menuduh percubaan Menteri Pertahanan, DS Hishammuddin Hussein untuk membuka sebuah kem tentera baru di kawasan Parlimennya, iaitu Sembrong, di Johor, sebagai langkah untuk mengukuhkan kedudukannya di kawasan tersebut dan untuk memastikan kemenangan untuk diri beliau sendiri semasa pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Camps and Elections - Truth or Fallacy?

Recently, DAP Recon team claimed that they had uncovered attempts by Defence Minister, DS Hishammuddin Hussein to open a new army camp in his constituency, Sembrong, Johor in an attempt to shore up his support in the constituency and to ensure that he wins the next general election. 

What is Your Game, Online Media?

Very recently, I had written an article rebutting an article by Free Malaysia Today that claimed a foreign defence expert had criticised RMAF for being not ready for urban warfare.

Sarawak State Memorial

The end of World War 2 ushered in an age of political revolt in former British-held territories. Malaysia and the territories that made up Malaysia too could not escape this new-found confidence in self-rule.

Pakar, Dibedah

Baru-baru ini (6 Disember 2017), Free Malaysia Today (FMT), sebuah pengendali media atas talian dengan haluan kiri pertengahan telah mengeluarkan satu rencana berbentuk temubual dengan Profesor Zachary Abuza dari Kolej Peperangan Kebangsaan, Washington DC (Amerika Syarikat) yang mengkritik apa yang dikatakan sebagai kegagalan TUDM menghadapi peperangan dalam bandar. Kritikan keras profesor itu diterbitkan oleh pengendali media tersebut sebagai bukti bahawa mereka mengambil berat akan isu keselamatan negara.

Expert, Deconstructed

Recently (6 December 2017), Free Malaysia Today (FMT), an online media outlet with a centre-left leaning had published an interview with Professor Zachary Abuza of National War College, Washington DC criticizing RMAF apparent lack of preparedness in facing urban warfare. The stinging rebuke by the professor was happily published by the online media, apparently showing that they care of our national security.

No Plans for School Holidays? Make a Bee Line to Muzium Tentera Darat

School holidays have started for about a week already.  While some parents may have plans to bring their children for holidays, many are still contemplating where to bring their children to during this school holiday.

Pretenders and Stolen Valour

Some 17 years ago, I befriended a military man. Soon after that, he retired but we maintained our friendship, albeit via the internet through various iteration of social media tools.

I learnt a lot about the military from this man, and I considered him one of my early masters.

Peruntukan Pertahanan 2018 - Mangsa Mainan Politik Keji

Tahun lepas, YB DAP Kampar, Dr. Ko Chung Sen lah yang mempolitikkan peruntukan pertahanan, dengan mengatakan bahawa perbelanjaan pertahanan adalah membazir.  Tahun ini, giliran YB DAP Klang, Charles Santiago yang mengusulkan untuk memotong peruntukan pertahanan untuk dialihkan kepada peruntukan kesihatan. 

YB DAP Kampar - Dr. Ko Chung Sen

YB DAP Klang - Charles Santiago

Saya tidak faham apa yang ahli Parlimen DAP tidak suka mengenai perbelanjaan pertahanan.  Adakah kerana pegangan politik haluan kiri mereka?  Atau terdapat udang di sebalik batu yang lain?

Defence Budget 2018 - Target of Sick Politicking

Last year, it was DAP YB for Kampar, Dr. Ko Chung Sen that had politicised defence budget allocation, citing that defence spending does not benefit the nation.  This year, it is DAP YB for Klang, Charles Santiago that had proposed for cuts in defence budget in favour for health budget.

DAP YB Kampar - Dr Ko Chung Sen

DAP YB Klang Charles Santiago

Frankly, I do not understand what DAP MPs has against defence spending.  Is it due to their left-wing leaning politics?  Or is there some ulterior motives?

Kenapa Kapal Tugasan Pesisiran ini Diperlukan?

Nota: Rencana ini adalah rencana yang diterjemahkan daripada rencana yang asalnya ditulis dalam Bahasa Inggeris pada tahun lalu.

Semalam, Ahli Parlimen DAP bagi Kampar, Dr. Ko Chung Sen mempersoalkan keperluan untuk Malaysia membeli 10 buah Kapal Tugasan Persisiran bernilai RM3 bilion daripada China, seperti dilaporkan oleh MalaysiaKini.  

YB Kampar - Dr. Ko Chung Sen (DAP)
Sumber: DAP

Tun Hanif Omar - A Brief History

Tun Hanif Omar was a former Inspector General of Police of Royal Malaysian Police Force from 1974 to 1994. At the time of his appointment to the post, he was the youngest person to be appointed as IGP in Commonwealth, at the age of 34, a post he held until retirement. He is also the longest serving IGP in Commonwealth (20 years).

Tun Hanif Omar

Can We Compare Apple with Orange when Both Are Fruits?

Nearly every budget, this never fails to happen.  Malaysians, so eager to compare their new-found knowledge of the world, sought to impress their other less-read compatriots, start to lambast the government for not managing the civil service workforce and claiming that the proportion of civil service that we have today is unrealistically high and not manageable in the long run.

We are often compared to our neighbour, Singapore (1 to 71.4), our former colonial master, the UK (1 civil servant to every 118 citizens) and a few other nations as seen in this screen-capture.  What more, this was shared by Dato' Seri Nazir Razak, the Prime Minister's own brother.

Pengkajian Semula Program MRCA Malaysia

"Ingatkan panas sehingga ke petang, rupanya hujan di tengah hari", pepatah Melayu yang paling tepat menjelaskan perasaan ramai pengkaji sektor pertahanan negara apabila Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein mengumumkan bahawa program MRCA tidak akan diteruskan semasa LIMA 2017. 

Laluan Penuh Ranjau
Program MRCA yang asalnya diumumkan sekitar 2003 - 2005 (saya tidak berapa ingat bila) bertujuan untuk menggantikan pesawat pemintas tersohor MiG29N TUDM.

Program tersebut ditunda buat pertama kalinya semasa ekonomi dunia mengalami kemurungan yang teruk pada tahun 2008 akibat krisis subprime di Amerika Syarikat yang telah menjangkiti seluruh dunia. 

Relook into Malaysian MRCA Programme

"Ingatkan panas sehingga ke petang, rupanya hujan di tengah hari", a Malay proverb which best encapsulate the feeling of many defence watchers when the Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein announced that the MRCA programme will not go through during the LIMA 2017. 

The Programme's Hiccups

The MRCA programme which was first announced circa 2003 - 2005 (I can't really remember when) was intended to replace the venerable MiG29N Fulcrum interceptor for RMAF. 

The programme was first deferred when the global economy had went into a severe recession in 2008 due to the subprime crisis in the US which had unfortunately infected the rest of the world. 

The Price of Unbridled Capitalism

For the sake of this article, I had bought this pack of 4 traditional moon cake for RM9.  I bought it at a roadside stall operated by a woman at the location next to Wangsa Maju LRT for at least the last 10 years.  While I paid for the moon cake with a piece of RM10 note, my mind was distracted, thinking how I should write begin this article on capitalism and human greed.  The trader took note of my distraction, and did not return my change, claiming she had returned it to me.

We Never Learn from Our Past

Malaysia never learns from painful experience.  That is what I felt when I read the news that Special Branch had arrested 7 FTF (foreign terrorist fighters) working as security guards in Kuala Lumpur for the last 2 years.

All 7 FTF were believed to be affiliated to Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), and to a further extent, Daish.

All 7 are believed to have came to Peninsular Malaysia using forged MyKads.

Note that these 7 are different from the 9 arrested between 1 July to 30 August, for plans to distrupt the National Day celebration and SEA Games.

PM Visit to Washington DC

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak had just touched down in Washington D.C., as he prepared to be the first ASEAN leader to visit current sitting US President, Donald J Trump after his inauguration on 18 January early this year.

Source - PM Najib Razak blog

What would his visit entails to? Let's see what is it in for DSN, and to that extent, Malaysia.

Myanmar Humanitarian Crisis

1. Malaysia has been helping Rohingyans by providing food and shelter to Rohingyans since 1990's. Rohingyans in Malaysia can be found in large concentration in Selayang area.

Photo Tells a Thousand Words

There's a saying that a photo tells a thousand words. But people tend to forget, that the thousand words tend to be distorted by the people who tell the narrative. And along the way, the message is lost.

Digarhayu Malaysia Merdeka - Bahagian 2

Daripada bahagian pertama...

Ancaman terhadap kedaulatan negara bukan semata-mata daripada fahaman komunis.  Negara turut diancam negara jiran serantau.

Ancaman komunisme terhadap Malaya menyaksikan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Ketua Menteri Persekutuan Tanah Melayu mengutarakan cadangan penubuhan sebuah negara baru menggabungkan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, Singapura, Sabah, Sarawak dan Brunei menjadi sebuah negara persekutuan.  (Ada yang menyatakan bahawa cadangan asal berasal daripada Brunei).

Dirgahayu Malaysia Merdeka - Bahagian 1

Di kala jiran tetangga kita menyambut hari kebangsaan masing-masing, saya ambil peluang ini untuk melihat kembali negara kita sendiri.

Adakah kita sudah melangkah jauh ke hadapan? Atau kita sekadar jaguh kampung yang bagai si ibu ayam, bertelur sebiji riuh sekampung?

Rescue Operation on Missing USS John McCain Sailors

The recent incident involving USS John S. McCain in the waters off Pulau Batu Putih (also known as Pedra Branca by Singapore) underscores the dangers faced by navies and merchants alike.

The collision to my knowledge is the second involving navies and merchant vessels in the area.

The Flag and Patriotism

Every year in August, there are bound to be people highlighting why are other people, their friends, their neighbours or even their families for not flying the Jalur Gemilang.

Kapal LCS Malaysia - Kelas Maharaja Lela

Selepas bertahun-tahun menunggu, kita akhirnya dapat melihat kapal pertama daripada enam kapal patrol generasi kedua (SGPV), yang juga dikenali sebagai LCS Malaysia.

Malaysian Littoral Combat Ship - The Maharaja Lela Class

After years of waiting, we finally got to see the first of six Second Generation Patrol Vessel (SGPV), also known as Malaysian LCS.

Antara Tugas dan Nama

Nama Ahmad Shah Massoud suatu ketika dahulu pernah meniti bibir rakyat Malaysia, terutamanya antara mereka yang beragama Islam dan mengambil berat mengenai isu penjajahan Kesatuan Soviet Rusia ke atas negara Afghanistan. 

Kehebatan beliau sebagai seorang tactician medan dan keberaniannya berhadapan dengan musuh membawa kepada gelaran Singa Panjshir.

How to buy and fly on Air Asia

When Air Asia first burst into the local airline industry around 2001, with , it was considered a godsend gift to Malaysians.

Air travel which once were a luxury became available for your average Malaysians.  Air Asia's arrival also meant that it would be less financially burdening for my parents to send me to study in university in Penang.

Kings and Pawns

Just before I went to sleep last night, I noticed there were some news claiming that French has finally made a move on the Scorpene case. And pro-opposition begin to trump the case as the end of PM Najib.

KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, one of the 2 Scorpene submarines with RMN

I told myself why not let it fester a bit more and see how it turns out.

Heroes from the Past - Staff Sergeant Azman Tahir and Sergeant Gani Binjoi

After the Bakarra Market incident which saw 18 US soldiers and 1 Malaysian soldiers dead (some sources stated 2 Pakistani soldiers were also killed but this remain unverified), the United Nations mission in Somalia received further shock when then US President Bill Clinton decided to end US involvement in the war-torn country. That had forced United Nations to plan for withdrawal from Somalia.

Heroes from the Past - Cpl Mat Aznan Awang, Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (KIA 4th Oct 1993)

Cpl Mat Aznan Awang, SP (KIA 4th Oct 1993, Bakarra Market, Somalia), 19 Royal Malay Regiment (Mechanised), then under the aegis of United Nations in Somalia as Malbatt 1.

From the state of Kedah, Malaysia and a father of 2, he was designated as the lead driver for into Bakarra Market in the attempt to reach and rescue US Rangers and Delta Force from Task Force Ranger who were trapped in the market after the downing of 2 US 160th SOAR Black Hawks.

A militia RPG hit his Radpanzer Condor armoured personnel carrier driver viewing port before the protective plate could be put down, penetrating into the vehicle and mortally wounding him. He was evacuated but died of his injuries hours later.

When a Media is Not a Media

Yesterday was Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Part of the national culture is the traditional open house event. The Prime Minister, DS Najib Tun Razak had graciously opened Sri Perdana to the public.

Happy Birthday SU30MKM

Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the arrival of the first 2 units of SU30MKM to serve with RMAF. Both birds, with tail number M52-01 and M52-02, were soon followed by the rest of the SU30MKM. In total, RMAF procured 18 units of this unique Russian jet with western, specifically French avionics system.

Naval Accidents

The news of the maritime incident involving USS Fitzgerald and Philippine-flagged ACX Crystal is a stark reminder the dangers faced by navy personnel worldwide. 7 sailors were missing after the crash, with reports of some bodies have been found in flooded areas of the ship.

USS Fitzgerald
Source - various media

Nearer to home, our KD Jebat (pennant no. 29) was involved in a similar collision when KD Jebat was brushed by an unknown ship near Selangor waters in January 2014. Thankfully the damage was minor and all hands were accounted for.

Our neighbour's navy was not as fortunate. In 2003, RSN Courageous, a Fearless class patrol vessel was hit at the stern by Indonesian-registered cargo ship ANL Indonesia. 

RSN Courageous
Source BBC

4 female sailors were killed as their sleeping bunk were sheared off. 3 bodies were recovered, while another was never found. The deceased are:
1. 1st Sgt Seah Ai Leng
2. 1st Sgt Heng Sok Ling
3. 2nd Sgt Chua Bee Lin
4. Cpl Goh Hui Ling

2nd Sgt Chua's body was never recovered.

As we are on this topic, I would like to implore my readers not to make fun of these deaths and accidents. Let it be a solemn memory of their loss, regardless of their nationality.

Note: 

There is another naval collision involving RMN in the 70's which resulted in loss of lives. But I do not have the details. Pray for the souls of these brave men and women who served their nations without question.

To Replace or Not to Replace - RMAF Dilemma

The recent loss of 1 RMAF BAe Hawk 108 Lead-In Fighter Trainer (or LIFT) has been pounced upon by some quarters to push the Federal Government to procure new MRCA (Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) to replace the BAe Hawk 108. They claimed the crash is evidence that the plane is no longer viable and must be replaced.

RMAF BAe Hawk 108
Credit BAe

Rest In Peace, Op Daulat Heroes

Today has been a long day. As I was safely having lunch in KL CBD, a RMAF Hawk 108 trainer fighter had crashed somewhere near Cukai, Terengganu. Both pilot and co-pilot, Major Yasmi Mohd Yusof (call sign Caser), 39, and Major Mohd Hasri Safari (call sign Fixer), 31, were killed in the crash.

Big Loss
Let's not dwell into what had happened. The Board of Inquiry that would be set up would handle that.

Kami Yang Menurut Perintah

Ya, kami yang menurut perintah.

Ketika kamu melahap peha kambing,
Kami menjamu rangsum tempur.

Ketika kamu memandang siling putih,
Kami melihat bintang dan purnama.

Ketika peti penyaman menyejukkan kulitmu,
Kami disapa nyamuk dan unggas.

Ketika kamu tidur dengan aman,
Kami bermandi darah.

Dihantar berperang bersenjata usang,
Hanya untuk kamu berkereta mewah.

Di ketika peluru menghinggap tubuh kami,
Kamu mencari jalan meninggalkan medan.

Ya, kami perajurit negara, yang naif dan menurut perintah.

_______________
Copying over from Malaysia Military Power with permission.

Timur Tengah yang Bergolak - Bara Api Kebencian - Bahagian 4

Timur Tengah yang Bergolak - Bara Api Kebencian - Bahagian 3

Penglibatan Rusia dalam perang saudara Syria bukanlah tidak bersebab. Sesetengah orang mungkin melihat penglibatan Rusia dalam konflik ini bagai sebuah kuasa dunia yang sudah melepasi tarikh luput yang cuba menunjukkan taringnya tumpulnya seolah-olah masih tajam ke atas sesebuah masyarakat bagi memastikan rejim yang menjadi sekutunya terus berkuasa. Tetapi penglibatan Rusia di Syria adalah atas kepentingannya, bukannya atas pelawaan Syria semata-mata.

Middle-East - Burning Ember of Hatred - Part 6 (Final)

Middle-East - Burning Ember of Hatred - Part 5

Now that we have discerned parts of the facts on the Syrian conflict, what is far more important is to understand how these facts affect our own country. On paper, the conflict in Syria does not seems to be connected to anything with Malaysia. But upon further study, understanding the Syrian conflict is critical in managing the threat risk within our country.

Timur Tengah yang Bergolak - Bara Api Kebencian - Bahagian 3

Timur Tengah yang Bergolak - Bara Api Kebencian - Bahagian 2

Pasukan Topi Putih - Wira atau Penipu
Banyak bukti yang mengaitkan rejim Assad dalam penggunaan senjata kimia dan jenayah kemanusiaan lain datang dari sebuah kumpulan yang dikenali sebagai Topi Putih.

Kumpulan itu dipanggil sebagai Topi Putih kerana mereka memakai topi keselamatan berwarna putih semasa menjalankan kerja-kerja menyelamat, sebahagian besarnya hanya dengan alatan tangan untuk menyelamatkan mangsa yang terperangkap.

Middle-East - Burning Ember of Hatred - Part 5

On 7th April 2017, US President Donald Trump ordered US Navy to launch 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles against identified targets in Syria as a retaliation against the 4th April Sarin gas attack against Khan Sheikun.

Tomahawk cruise missile

Of the 59 missiles, it was alleged only 23 managed to find their intended targets.

The missile strike marked a reversal of Trump's so-called foreign policy; he had campaigned against involvement in Middle-East. Apparently, all he needed was just a prod from his daughter, Ivanka Trump.

Timur Tengah yang Bergolak - Bara Api Kebencian - Bahagian 2

Timur Tengah yang Bergolak - Bara Api Kebencian - Bahagian 1

Bashir al-Assad

Kerajaan Bashir al-Assad
Bashir al-Assad (juga dieja sebagai Bashar) telah mewarisi kerajaan dari bapanya, iaitu Hafez al-Assad, dari puak Alawiyah.

Hafez al-Assad

Hafez al-Assad bersama-sama dengan Mesir, Libya, dan Jordan membentuk barisan Pan-Arab yang anti-Israel .

Middle-East - Burning Ember of Hatred - Part 4

Middle-East - Burning Ember of Hatred - Part 3

Russia's entry into the Syrian Civil War is not incidental. While some people may see Russia's involvement in the war as that of a old lumbering superpower trying to impose its will on the local populace while propping up a hated figure of the regime, Russia's involvement is not on Syria's behest, but of her own.

Timur Tengah yang Bergolak - Bara Api Kebencian - Bahagian 1

Sudah agak lama saya tidak mengulas mengenai konflik Timur Tengah, tetapi dengan perkembangan baru-baru ini yang hampir sekali membawa implikasi global, rasa nya sudah tiba masanya untuk mengkaji kerumitan yang berlaku di Timur Tengah ini.

Middle-East - Burning Ember of Hatred - Part 3

Middle-East - Burning Ember of Hatred - Part 2

The White Helmets - Heroes or Pretenders
Much of the evidence against Assad's regime on the use of chemical weapons and other atrocities against humanity came from a group known as the White Helmets.

The group is called as White Helmets as they wear white-coloured helmets while conducting rescue works, mostly using handheld devices to remove rubble to rescue trapped victims.

Middle-East - The Burning Ember of Hatred - Part 2

Middle-East - The Burning Ember of Hatred - Part 1

Bashir al-Assad

Bashir al-Assad Government
Bashir al-Assad (also spelt as Bashar) inherited the government from his father, Hafez al-Assad, from the Alawite clan.

Hafez al-Assad 

Hafez al-Assad formed part of the Pan-Arab anti-Israeli forces together with Egypt, Libya, Jordan.

Secular Baathist Party

Politically, they profess secular political leaning similar to Iraq, as both countries were under Baathist rule. 

Middle-East - Burning Ember of Hatred - Part 1

It has been quite some times since I have commented on the Middle-East conflict, but with recent events which may have global implications, I feel that it would be interesting to look into the complicated nature of the Middle-East quagmire.

Before I go any further, please note that there is no guarantee right or wrong answer when discussing about the conflict, with too many interested parties in play in the region. Let's have no illusion that we really know what is happening in the region.

Let's start by looking back at the root of the Syrian civil war.

Arab Spring

Civil war is only civil in name only. The war which began 6 years ago was part of the bloody Arab Spring which began in Tunisia. 

The self-immolation of Mohd Bouazizi in Tunisia after his his fruit stall was confiscated by government enforcement officers alleged to be corrupted led from one thing to another.

Soon the whole region was on fire, with Tunisian, Egyptian, Yaman, and Libyan dictators fell. Syrian Bashir al-Asshad on the other hand fought hard to prevent his presidency from collapsing.

While Arab Spring began with legitimate questions on human rights (the dictators that were brought down were involved in suppression of democracy and human rights, with known willingness of torturing dissidents to suppress the dissidents), it soon attracted groups with malicious intention.

The 3 most badly affected countries are Syria, Libya and Yemen, not in any specific order. The already existing schism in the society, especially between the Sunni and Shiite (alternatively spelt as Shiah) were fully exploited and led to the rise of religious extremism.

Daish 

One of the parties which had benefited much from the radicalisation of the region is Daish.

Daish, or ad-Dawlah al-Islāmiyah fī 'l-ʿIrāq wa-sh-Shām, had its root in the violent Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (JTJ) founded by Jordanian Ahmad Fadeel al-Nazal al-Khalayleh, better known as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

His group was instrumental in escalating the insurgency in Iraq and was responsible in introducing executing their prisoners by beheading. The executions were recorded as propaganda material, both to motivate their ranks and to create fear in their enemies.

Lt Gen Paul Bremer

His militant group was very effective in

fighting against the US Occupying Force, largely in part due to the mistake by Administrator of Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Head, Lt Gen Paul Bremer in 2003. In order to remove the last vestige of Saddam Hussein's influence in the Iraqi government, he issued out Order No. 2 which resulted in all Iraqi soldiers being terminated. These disgruntled soldiers were later then find themselves in service of Abu Musab's JTJ.

Osama bin Laden

During the period, Abu Musab had sought out Osama bin Laden for legitimacy and this transformed JTJ into Al Qaida in Iraq (AQI). According to US intelligence report, this would be one of the decisions that Osama would regretted.

Abu Musab's action especially against non-combatants was reputed to have brought dishonour to the Al Qaida franchise (the word 'franchise' here being that other militant groups which want to align with AQ had only need to declare baiyah to Osama). It was also said that he was worried that Abu Musab was planning to usurp his authority.

MQ-1 Reaper UAV

That ended with Abu Musab's death in a Predator drone attack in 2006.

AQI went into a slow decline due to continuous actions from US government, Iraqi government and local tribal leaders, both Sunni and Shiah.

A few years after Abu Musab's death, it was believed that both JTJ and AQ had clashes. 

US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with all their intelligence decided to back JTJ against AQ, with assumption that with Abu Musab dead, they would be able to use JTJ to destroy AQ.

CIA may have not realised it, or assumed they could have controlled JTJ.

With the Arab Spring later igniting the conflict in Syria, both JTJ and AQ were back on friendly terms and surprisingly managed to repackage themselves as the real deal in Syrian conflict that CIA had supplied both groups with weapons and supplies to go against Syrian government.

Both groups later broke off again in Syria, with JTJ becoming Daish and AQ having a hand in Jahbat al-Nusra.

After Daish gained control of some parts of Iraq, it was then revealed that unlike most militant groups, Daish fighters were fighting tactically. This was later attributed to the many former Iraqi soldiers and former Baathist in Daish's rank and file.

Currently, Daish is playing to the tune that they are God's Army as predicted in the Quran, to have come out of the land of Syam to reclaim Jerusalem.

They are currently believed to be financed by some quarters in Saudi and other parts of Muslim world. Other than Saudi, they are believed to be supported by Turkey.

Free Syria Army
The Free Syrian Army are basically conglomeration of different militant groups which claimed to be secular in nature.

At one point of time, the group also consisted both Jahbat Al-Nusra and Daish. This relationship was broken off when both groups went rogue.

FSA also consist of many former Syrian Army troops who had defected from Assad's forces.

Like Daish and AQ, they were supported militarily by the West. Injured FSA members are also being sent for treatment in Israel.

FSA received support similar to how Free Libyan Army had received in bringing down the Libyan dictator Muammar Gadaffi. The similarity of the support received by FSA would later result in Russian involvement in Syria.

To be continued...

SOSMA Stays, Attempt to Demonise Failed

Last week, Malaysiakini ran an article about Aishah Atam, a young Malay girl from Dungun, Terengganu. She had recently been arrested and placed into custody under Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 for alleged involvement in terrorism activities. 

Politics and Security Doesn't Mix - Ignore it at Your Own Peril

An interesting part of Malaysia history.

During the fight against communism, civilian leaders who were against the communist struggle were often targets of assassination by communist hit squads.

MRCA Deal - Between Existential Threat and National Debt

Looks like someone had just canceled his one-way ticket out of Malaysia.

Isn't it ironic during the whole diplomatic crisis with North Korea, someone choose to keep quiet? For all these years he had been claiming that Malaysia doesn't need advanced defence system, here is a nation that quite rightly has the capability not only to attack us, but also even put the mighty US on a wary note.

MRCA - Do We Still Need Them?

LIMA 2017 came and go, and still no MRCA being signed. The official visit by French President François Hollande to Malaysia was expected by many as culmination of years of effort to get Malaysia to procure D'assault Aviation Rafale soon dissipated when Prime Minister DS Najib Tun Razak mentioned that we will not be buying the Rafale, yet.

Fraud, Scam and Trickery

To remember that I once was a young innocent impressionable young man. I guess the line of work I choose to take had matured me when handling people. After all, you can't be easily cheated to again when you learnt the lesson of trusting someone for 15 years, at least.

In my line of work, at times I have to handle much of these frauds, scams and trickery. No, I won't be divulging what is my day work though I suspect some of you do know.

Cutting Defence Budget Leads To Existential Threat

Firstly, allow me to thank Bro Muhaimin Ahmad for sharing this photo. I missed it out because it was published in The Star. I seldom buy the Star although they are more readily to publish my letters.

Scorpene - Again and Again and Again - Like a Broken Record Player

Persistency is good. But when you're persistent on things that had been proven wrong, that makes you an idiot.

And that is what I'm calling opposition party supporters who keep on highlighting the mantra that our submarines can't dive.

RMN Scorpene submarines

Since the inception of our submarine units using French - Spanish consortium of DCNS - Navantia, the opposition keeps on harping that the purchase was useless and waste of money, especially because the submarines do not dive and it is second hand.

Short brief on MCP rebellion Time Line

In a few days time, a much long awaited film, Kanang, will be shown in cinema all over the country.

The film is about Temenggung Kanang anak Langkau and his life, from a young Iban sampan operator to the battle that nearly claimed his life at Tanah Hitam, Perak somewhere in 1979 (I don't recall the exact date).

The titular character, Kanang, is portrayed by none other but his own son, Langgi Kanang who bears very strong resemblance to him.

As I browsed through some comments on the movie, some individuals had asked isn't it that we won the fight against communism in 1960?

Just a brief history on the conflict.

From 1948 to 1960, Malayan Communist Party had launched an armed rebellion against the Malayan government which is under British control.

The rebellion was launched on the pretext of getting independence for Malaya. But it itself was a part of a larger Comintern's plan to convert the world into communism.

The rebellion was very effective from 1948 to 1955 where British used repressive technics which resulted in great recruiting material for the communists.

It was only after the Briggs plan and the talk of Merdeka that the MCP began to weakened and that the British began to take the local officers more seriously.

Local leaders called for amnesty programmes helped to decimate the communist ranks. The patriots amongst the communists put down their weapons and brought their friends out. By 1955, there were no patriots left in MCP except hardcore communists.

1957, Malaya gained independence. And by 1960, the hard pressed MCP ran to Thai border.

Circa 1967, MCP began to revive and had planned to restart their rebellion. But the 13 May 1969 took them by surprise and they missed the boat. It did gained them quite a large number of recruits.

1971, MCP began their second insurgency earnestly.

Starting from an attack at Kroh, where a military convoy was ambushed, it soon turned into a full-blown war in the jungles of Peninsular Malaysia.

Despite the war being fought in the jungles of Peninsular Malaysia, the situation was very precarious. Australian forces based in Butterworth had even been instructed to stand by to provide armed support if necessary.

With US losing the war in South Vietnam, tonnes of military supplies went underground. Many of these supplies ended up in the hands of MCP.

On the government side, after trial and error with the 5.56mm type rifles (HK33, Berreta, AR15), the military decided to adopt M16A1.

It is this era that is being portrayed in the film Kanang. An era which many Malaysians do not even realised had occurred.

By 1980's, the huge change in geopolitics hit MCP badly. Being a pro-Beijing movement, they found that they were no longer wanted by then Deng Xiaoping.

The Sino - Vietnam war had resulted MCP losing their other key ally, Vietnam.

By 1985, MCP was a spent force.

By 1987, they sent peace feelers to Malaysian government.

1988, the arrest of Cheong Chor in downtown KL resulted in the last MCP combat unit under MCP central to lose combat effectiveness. Though it must be made a point that MCP did not realise this yet as they had actually planned for a 3rd insurgency, if possible.

And by 1989, they finally laid down their weapons, after being informed that none of their units which had infiltrated into Malaysia are still loyal to Chin Peng as all had been infiltrated by Special Branch Task Force F and had agreed to surrender.

Kanang's sacrifices is not the only sacrifice made at that time. Malaysians from all different races, religions, and even hardcore communists* who had been reformed and returned to the society fought hard to ensure the freedom that we see today.

Let's not waste the sacrifices they have made for us.

* amongst the strongest and best anti-communist guerrilla fighters were former communist themselves.

Politicisation of Sungai Besi Air Base Impending Closure

Politicising defence is always the easiest way for any politicians to gain traction anywhere, but especially true in Malaysia.