Tugu Peringatan Perang Air Itam - Sejarah

Sekiranya anda dalam perjalanan ke Bukit Bendera, Pulau Pinang, anda akan melintasi struktur ini yang terletak di Bulatan Air Itam.  Sebuah tugu berbentuk lori Dodge digambarkan ditolak oleh beberapa orang lelaki yang mempunyai raut wajah Cina.  Dengan hanya tulisan Cina di tugu utama ini, kehadiran tugu ini membangkitkan kontroversi kerana disalah anggap sebagai suatu tugu yang telah dibina untuk mengagungkan pengganas komunis. 

Pandangan pertama kebanyakan pengunjung.

Sejarah negara kita bukanlah sehitam dan seputih yang diinginkan kebanyakan rakyat Malaysia.  Mungkin sebab kerana bagaimana sejarah diajar di sekolah-sekolah dan bagaimana Kementerian Pelajaran menstrukturkan matapelajaran sejarah kita, maka banyak perkara yang telah diabaikan ataupun lebih tepat, kurang diberi perhatian.  Ini diburukkan lagi dengan tugu itu hampir sepenuhnya ditulis dalam Bahasa Cina.

Sino - Singapore Relationship - Geopolitical Minefield

Last week, my eyes caught some news about a shipment of armoured personnel carriers from Taiwan to Singapore being seized by Hong Kong Port authority, Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board (HKMPB).  At first, the news did not trigger much of my attention as I am in midst of preparing for exam.

Terrex. Photo credit - Singapore MINDEF

Defence Asset Procurement Policy - Threats - Part 2

Note: In the previous article, we have explored some of the procurement methods that are in practiced in several countries, including our own.  We also explored how failure to monitor procurement issue had led to a weakened RMN. 

Disclaimer:
Information shared in this article could not be independently verified.  And even if it has been independently verified, I do not and will not identify them to protect individuals who have and may have shared these information with me.

Tun Hussein Onn

Military procurement doctrine is largely driven by threats that a country is facing.  Malaysia does not run far from this.  As mentioned in the first instalment of this article, the invasion threat and the Domino Effect theory had convinced our defence planners back then to convince then Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn (father to the current Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein).

Son, Datuk Seri Hishammudin Tun Hussein

In fact, understanding the threat that Malaysia is facing today should be the driving reason in formulating a defence assets procurement policy to ensure that our defence forces stay current and is able to counter potential threats.

There are 2 forms of threats to a nation; external and internal threat.

Reminiscent of an Untold Journey

A few months back, I had a family outing with my parents and my youngest brother to Krabi, Thailand. It was a simple trip, but meaningful.

The whole trip was meaningful as I don't spend much time with my parents. What more my youngest brother who is now studying overseas.

Of all the activities we had together, I feel this one was the most meaningful; the island hopping trip.

China - Friend or Foe?

I note with interest during the last couple of months, Malaysians took to social media to vent their anger against the apparent inaction of both Wisma Putra and Ministry of Defence against the intrusion of China's coast guard agency, known as China Coastal Guard (CGC).