Short Update - May 2015

Malaysia

1. 11th Malaysia Plan is now being presented in the Parliament.  So far, no update on defence allocation.
2. Mindas Muktadil, one of the Muktadil brothers who was involved in the recent spate of kidnapping in Sabah had been gunned down by security guards in Jolo. 
3. Suspected mass graves of human trafficking victims are believed to have be been found along Malaysia - Thailand border.  Further details on this, probably in 2 weeks time after I finished my exam. 

South China Sea

1. Things getting hotter with USN P-8 Poseidon flying near Fiery Reef had been challenged by China's PLA.  Recording of the challenge had been released by CNN.  And yet, we are behaving as everything is ok.  More on this after my exam.

Next Article

1. Saab 2000 AEW&C.  Why we need the system and how it will help us to solve the above-mentioned problem.  

11th Malaysia Plan - First Glance

Yesterday, the gist of 11th Malaysia Plan was first tabled by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.  And it is disconcerting there is no mention of plans for defence expenditure.

While so-called pacifists and activists may sigh a relief that Malaysia is not going to be part of a global arms race, this may not bode well to our nation's sovereignty.

However, it is still all too early to throw in the towel and speculate. Let's be patient and see how well did Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein had managed to convince Ministry of Finance for 11th Malaysian Plan.

Meanwhile at South China Sea, the Dragons of Middle Kingdom did not sit still...

Defending Malaysia - 11th Malaysia Plan

Credit - Najib Razak's Facebook

Early today, I received excerpt of speech by our Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein in the Parliament with regards of the 11th Malaysia Plan.  The content of the speech is to me very disturbing.  I will let you be the judge of it.

Malaysia And South China Sea

Recent revelation of China making land reclamation on Mischief Island which form part of the Spratly's had raised the concern of other claimants to the chain of islands.

Leading the charge is the Philippines and Vietnam, both nations who not only distrust the country, but had actually fought against the Chinese military might before; the Philippines while under the aegis of UN during the Korean War while Vietnam during the Sino - Vietnam 1979 border clashes.  The Philippines had hoped Malaysia as the current chairman to ASEAN, a regional grouping that Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines members would be firmer towards China.  However, there were not much noise coming from the recently concluded ASEAN Regional Ministerial Meeting, which was held in KL.

In fact, Malaysia is being seen playing it coyly with China on matters pertaining to South China Sea, even when the People's Liberation Army - Navy (PLA - N) had conducted a naval exercise in the vicinity of James Shoal (Beting Serupai to Malaysian and Zhengmu Reef to China), a rocky outcrop located about 80 nautical miles away from the Malaysian town of Bintulu back in 2013.

This fact is not lost to the Chinese, who had reciprocated Malaysia by giving the country a differential treatment.  This has led to PLA conducting a table top military exercise with Malaysia at the end of 2014, with a full fledged military exercise planned for this year.  Add on top of it, Chinese Politburo is said to be behind the recent visit of Chinese August One acrobatic team to Malaysia's Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show (LIMA) 2015.

Why does Malaysia, a regional powerhouse in the 90's, choose to pander to China instead of being aggresive towards China's military expansionism in South China Sea?  For us to understand this quirkiness, let us first understand the unique Sino - Malay relationship which has been in play since at least 649 AD.

Malaysian MRCA Programme - The Next Step

As the curtain falls over the Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show 2015 (LIMA 2015), the long anticipated announcement on RMAF MRCA programme to replace the RMAF ageing Mikoyan Gurevich MiG29N air superiority fighters were yet to be announced.  While the lack of announcement was a dampener for LIMA, it was a foregone conclusion, considering capital funding for the programme under the 10th Malaysia Plan had long since been exhausted and the budget for 11th Malaysia Plan is only expected to be tabled in April or May 2015.

However, the lack of announcement does not mean that Malaysian Government is not committed to do window shopping during the same air show.  The lack of announcement had instead resulted in an even more intense jostling and bidding behind the scene for the small pie in Malaysian defence budget.