Malaysia's New National Defense Policy..!!!

Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmed Zahid Hamidi said that the Ministry of Defense would review the newly launched National Defense Policy in 2012. He said that the Defense Ministry would follow through the existing national defense policies and review them progressively in order to attain defense policy objectives that have been formulated.

National Defense Policy Covers Four Main Tasks
He said that currently the National Defense Policy covers four main tasks:

First: To educate citizens "all-citizen national defense" concept that combines the power of the government, NGOs, private sector, and people in a total effort to defense the country.

Second: To enhance and develop the capacity of the Armed Forces, while making effort to increase citizens' awareness of this national defense concept and a sense of patriotism.

Third: To cooperate with regional countries and to establish closer military diplomacy with them. Malaysia must consolidate bilateral defense cooperation with countries, which have already established strategic partnership ties with Malaysia.

Fourth: To set up a defense policy committee to oversee the task of defense policy formulation progress and to review the current National Defense Policy in 2012.

In delivering his address at the official launch of the National Defense Policy held on 9 November, Minister Ahmed Zahid stressed on the importance for the nation to develop a defense awareness mindset. He said that even if Malaysia processed top-notch weaponries, if Malaysia failed to develop a defense prevention awareness mind-set all the best weapon equipment would be of no use to the defense ministry.

He added: "I have visited a Middle East country in 1987. This Middle East country processed the most advanced military aircrafts. However, when internal war occurred in that country, the bed room of the national leader of this country was invaded by the rival army. It was only four hours after the attack on the national leader's residence that its most advanced fighter aircraft took off to defense the country."

Malaysia To Enhance Power of Modern Warfare
In addition to Defense Minister Ahmed Zahid, other officials who attended the launch of the National Defense Policy included Datuk Ismail Ahmed, secretary general of the Ministry of Defense, and General Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin, chief of the Armed Forces Staff.

Ahmed Zahid said that the main task of National Defense Policy must definitely be on achieving the goal to promote the modernization of the Armed Forces and to improve armed forces' combat capability. This was because the challenges of today's armed forces did not come from the traditional battlefield. On the contrary, the challenge of today's armed forces came from non-traditional emergency incidents such as on how to tackle and fight against the Somali pirates or how to carry out rescue missions to overcome natural disasters, and so on.

Minister Ahmed Zahid also pointed out the fact that Malaysia was located at the center of Southeast Asia. Malaysia's security would easily be affected by troubles or unrest that happened within this Southeast Asian region. As such every year, the Ministry of Defense would allocate $10million to establish a world food distribution and planning hub at the Subang Air Force Base, so that Malaysia could assume the responsibility as a regional disaster emergency relief center to distribute foods and goods to disaster victims.

China-Taiwan Issue To Be Resolved Peacefully

The newly released National Defense Policy points out that as long as the Taiwan Strait issue cannot be resolved completely, cross-straits tension can affect the stability of the Southeast Asian region. Malaysia hopes that mainland China and the Taiwan authorities can continue to make effort in finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict between them.

The National Defense Policy also states that no country in the 21st century can be immune from external conflict. The Policy says that in addition to issues relating to traditional national defense, countries also have to face the unlimited and borderless violence and crime.

US Remains Strongest Country in Asia Pacific RegionThe National Defense Policy also states that to Malaysia, although China, Japan and the United States are the three major actors in the Asia-Pacific region, the United States remains the strongest country that can exert influence in the Southeast Asian region. As such, the bilateral defense cooperation ties between Malaysia and the United States is a measure that can protect Malaysia's security and economic growth.

The National Defense Policy says that through engaging intimate cooperation relations with Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, and Singapore, the United States has indirectly enhanced the defense capability of countries surrounding the Southeast Asian region.
As far as China is concerned, the National Defense Policy says that, although holds the view that China does not consider ASEAN as a threat, however, China is also unwilling to see unstable situation developing in countries in the ASEAN region.

China is actively emerging as an economically and militarily strong power. China can play a balancing role in this region. This country (China) and Japan have very different defense operation mode. Malaysia must pay attention to the role that the economically strong Japan can play to stabilize the Southeast Asian region.

So far as Russia is concerned, although there are still many internal problems awaiting Russia to resolve, the National Defense Policy believes that Russia is now actively developing and increasingly its active role in the international community. The National Defense Policy believes that Russia is also one of the key nations that can affect the stability in the Southeast Asian region.

Resolving Nansha Islands Sovereignty Dispute Through Friendly ConsultationThe new Malaysian National Defense Policy also points out that as it stands now; the sovereignty dispute among some countries over the Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands) is still unresolved. In the South China Sea, the Sulawesi Sea, Malacca Strait, and in other international waterway, Malaysia still has territorial disputes with neighboring countries. Among them the sovereignty disputes over the Nansha islands have involved Brunei, China, the Philippines Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Fortunately, in November 2002, China and ASEAN have signed the "Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" that stressed the need for all countries involved in the maritime sovereignty dispute along South China Sea to resolve the pending disputes through friendly consultations and peaceful negotiations.

The National Defense Policy also states that as for territorial controversies in the South China Sea, Sulawesi Sea, Straits of Malacca, Malaysia will resolve any such disputes or conflicts through diplomatic channel. Malaysia will act in accordance with the spirit of ASEAN.

Political Instability To Threaten Racial Harmony
The National Defense Policy further points out that Malaysia's domestic political situation is full of uncertain factors. It says that political instability in the country can pose threat to social issues and to inter-ethnic harmony.

The National Defense Policy feels that, although the government has signed the "Hat Yai Agreement" with the Malaysian Communist Party in 1989, although there is no major and serious security problem in the country, the government authority cannot feel complacent and relax over internal security issues. Malaysia must guard against the widening racial divide in today's political climate.

However, some politicians have continued to play with unbridled incitement to stir up sensitive issues to the degree of causing threat to the general public and affecting racial harmony and peace to the society.

The National Defense Policy points out that coupled with the above mentioned factors, the security situation in Malaysia can even turn worse if some NGOs seize the opportunity to stir up trouble.

Moreover, this newly launched the National Defense Policy also mentions the need for Malaysia to face the huge immigrant population seriously and squarely. This is because regardless whether the immigrants are legal or illegal, they will all exert a certain degree of influence on the Malaysian society.

According to the immigration records, Malaysia has 1.85 million foreign workers. Malaysia has become one of the top 10 countries in the world that depend heavily on foreign work force to grow.

The National Defense Policy points out that having a massive foreign worker community can bring threats, crimes, diseases, and cultural conflicts to the Malaysian society. 

 

Thanks to sir A.Nayer Shamsi (blogger Current Affairs, Socio-Economic Issues, Current Events, News -- NewsDawn) for giving me to republish this article...
Original link : http://newsdawn.blogspot.com/2010/11/malaysias-new-national-defense-policy.html

Royal Malaysian Navy - Offshore EEZ Stations

-Sources from http://securemalaysia.blogspot.com/ -


For the Malaysians in the peninsular at least, Lumut would be THE Navy town where the premier Royal Malaysian Navy base is located. Thus many would not be aware that Sepanggar Bay at Kota Kinabalu in Sabah would become another premier naval base where the Command Naval Area 2 or COMNAV 2 is located after being transferred from KD Sri Labuan. This is where our submarines will be based and under COMNAV 3 also there are many units that you can read all about at the COMNAV2 website, though currently only available in English, including the Kuching Representative Naval Office (RNO/PWTL) and KD Sri Rejang in Sibu. This post however would concentrate on an isolated area of operations for the RMN, that is the naval stations in the Gugusan Semarang Peninjau that after the declaration of the Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) on 20 September 1979, have become outposts to validate Malaysia’s claims to the areas under the EEZ that are at least 156 nautical miles away from Kota Kinabalu.

Comprising five stations originally built on outlaying atolls, with the most developed now expanded to a full fledged island that is now a popular diving spot in the region. This is in contrast from the origins of Layang-Layang Island when the island started to receive its first human population three years after a claim plaque was erected on the coral atoll it was at the time on 21 June 1980, when eighteen hardy Paskal men went ashore on May 1983 to build the first encampment while braving the elements. This place is called Wisma Kaki Langit because at the time the only infrastructure available was a helipad for personnel transfer and the soldiers had to camp under the open skies on the bare reef. When the naval station proper was constructed six years later with the construction of a small living-cum-operations quarters, it was also decided that the enlarged island the atoll has become will also be developed as a tourist attraction so that the tourism potential of the island can be exploited. Thus by 1995, more buildings were added, including two air-conditioned accommodation blocks, an aircraft landing strip, which can be used by Hercules C-130 and CN235 aircraft, two hangars, a radar station, an air traffic control tower, watchtowers and a jetty has made the island a proper island station code named Station Lima for the naval men stationed there to safeguard our nation’s claim to the area. Patrols by navy soldiers in CB90H attack vessels and larger, faster patrol boats are carried out around the island. Several anti-ship and anti-aircraft guns are placed on several areas on the island and the RMAF personnel operate a Starburst air defence system to prevent low-level air attacks here.

Ubi Reef or Station Uniform was one of the stations which construction was started in the mid-80s for the purpose of monitoring and protection the territorial waters in international boundaries. It was built in early 1986 by Malaysian Shipping Engineering Corporation and in its early stage, was only a module built on top of a barge measuring 60 metres long and 30 metres wide anchored on top of Ubi Reef(Ardasier Reef) that is supposed to be the largest reef in Gugusan Semarang Peninjau. The station was officialy opended on 16 April 1986 and is located 16 nautical miles to the south west of Station Lima and 25 miles south of Station Mike. In 2000 the station was enlarged by filling in around the lagoon basin and a channel was built for safe passage of the visiting navy CB90 Combat Boat to enter and dock at the station. A beacon was also built about one mile to the east of the station to mark guide the boats into the lagoon. A buoy was also placed in the middle of the lagoon to assist in the berthing of the boats. In general, Station Uniform assets has been much enhanced to increase the operational readiness of the station.

The next reef to be populated was Station Mike or Mantanani Reef when a habitat module built by Malaysian Shipping Engineering Corporation was anchored onto the reef in the middle of September 1986 and was officially opened three months later. The 44 metre long Station Mike is located about 35 nautical miles to the north of Station Lima and is close to a Vietnamese settlement on Amboyna Cay only 40 nautical miles away. On 18 May 1994, the area around the islet was however declared a restricted area possibly due to its close proximity to competing forces.

The founding history of Station Sierra or Siput Reef started with the construction on a barge type module at Jerjak Island by PSCND. The module was specially designed originally as a floating vessel to facilitate towing at sea before it is anchored at Siput Reef. The towing was carried out in April 1999 codenamed Ops Sri Petaling whereby the module was towed under the element of disguise to avert notice by neighbouring countries in an operation taking almost one month. The sailing and towing operations was undertaken with several RMN ships in escort until reaching the site and anchored about 16 nautical miles south west of Station Mike. Location selection and module positioning was done during high tide so that it can be more easily anchored during low tide and after found satisfactory, the module was landed and filled in with cement and rocks to strengthen its anchorage. These works were completed in early May 1999 and officially named on 10 May 1999. In its early operations, it was declared that the module was built for marine and scientific research to reduce pressure and misunderstanding by claimant nations. The station was further secured by the extension of Ops Sri Petaling for monitoring and defense in order to safeguard the station from any threats especially from nations objecting to Malaysia’s settlement on the islet.

Similarly Station Papa was also constructed by PSCND that was originally a module built on top of a large barge that was towed to its current site in the same Ops Sri Petaling in early April 1999 before being anchored in the middle of Peninjau reef and located 70 miles north east of Station Lima. Work on anchoring the module on the largest reef in amongst the station was completed and then officially opened on 10 May 1999. Station Papa was similarly declared as a maritime scientific research station to reduce claimants’ pressure and similarly secured like Station Sierra against any threats from competing claimants.

The presence of soldiers on the islets demonstrates the sensitivity of the situation involving the overlapping claims on the many islands within the Spratlys archipelago. Military personnel are needed to maintain Malaysia’s control of the islets and also to protect the rich marine life surrounding it. The islands are important strategic assets for the country and were believed to contain natural resources such as oil, phosphorous and natural gas. Meanwhile, the reefs are teeming with a beautiful and diverse marine life such as corals and many types of fish, which are great tourist attractions. The soldiers are entrusted with the task of ensuring that only fishing vessels with permits are allowed into the area and fishermen cannot catch legally-protected fish. They also make patrols to prevent intrusions by foreign fishing boats or other types of vessels into the territorial waters. Men stationed at the five islets normally on a three-month rotation monitor the movement of foreign ships and aircraft in the area, including military submarines that constantly ply the South China Sea and every incident of close encounters with foreign ships and aircraft are logged although no incident or confrontation has been officially reported. A trivia about these islets is that has been honored with a stamp series featuring their ecological systems. Yet these offshore EEZ bases mark our frontiers out in the South China Sea, unprotected from the vagrancies of weather and atrocious sea conditions! Cold and distant these sovereign territorial positions are guarded around the clock by RMN personnel, whilst our citizens are safely tucked in the peace and security of their homes.

(Thanks to Sir Mumuchi, bloggers "A Secure Malaysia" for giving me this opportunity to republish his article from his blog....)
Original link : http://securemalaysia.blogspot.com/2009/05/royal-malaysian-navy-offshore-eez.html

Parts Row Delays Delivery of 6 Saab Aircraft..!!!

                                     RTAF’s Saab Gripen fighter aircraft (photo : TAF)

The delivery of six more Saab aircraft from Sweden has been delayed, a Royal Thai Air Force source said yesterday.

The delivery of the Saab 340 AEW airborne early warning aircraft was set for last Tuesday at Don Muang military air base with the ceremony to welcome them scheduled for last Wednesday at Wing 7 in Surat Thani.

But this has now been put off because an American parts supplier has refused to sell some key products to the Swedish manufacturer for reasons that are unclear, said the source.

The Saab 340 AEW is used to control the Gripen fighter fleet.

"Certain key items of the jet parts and the radar system produced by the US firm have not been granted permission to be sold to other countries," said the source. "And that has resulted in a delay in [the Swedish company's] assembling of the aircraft which I really have no idea when will be completed.

"I'm not sure if this is a game or not because the Royal Thai Air Force chose the Gripen from Sweden over the F series aircraft from the United States. The latter might not be happy with that," said the source.

Air force commander Itthaporn Subha-wong travelled to Sweden late last month to discuss the delivery with Saab but to no avail, said the source.

Previously, the air force bought a total of 12 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden along with two Saab 340 AEW aircraft and one Saab 340 transport aircraft for a total of 34 billion baht.

The first batch of aircraft of six Gripen fighter jets, one Saab 340 AEW and one Saab 340 has been delivered and commissioned at Wing 7.

The second batch of another six Gripen jets and one more Saab 340 AEW aircraft are awaiting delivery.

(Bangkok Post)

Italy Could Surrender Some of Its Fleet to Third Countries..!!

Maestrale class frigates has 122,7m in length and displacement 3.100 ton (photo : Naval Technology)

Italy is suffering severely for the current economic crisis and, despite the measures taken to stem the losses, the forecasts for the future is bleak. The data presented at Eurosatory - arms fair held in Paris - show a country in great difficulties even in the defense sector: the Ministry of the total budget is spent 22.4M-17.6M dollars in four years, with a reduction of 21.4% in 2012 compared to 2008.

The Italian government is trying, like many other European countries, to cut the unnecessary and at the same time find ways to sustain capacity and invest in new technologies. No wonder, then, that Italy is planning to get rid of some of its vehicles in service in favor of potential buyers, to reduce costs and raise cash.

It will be the Navy to be more affected by this process, if ever the government decides to implement it. The Navy has 82 ships in service of various kinds and 6 submarines. The plan is to get rid of 26-28 vessels, according to a statement by Admiral Louis Binelli Mantelli, Chief of Staff of the Navy, during a hearing at the Senate defense committee. In the list of 'offers' there would be 7 frigates, 6/8 corvettes, 4 ships trainer, 4 offshore tugboats, 3 coastal minesweepers and 2 carriers.

Not all ships in the list will bring money into the bank of the Navy Department. Some units have reached the maximum number of years of life and will be withdrawn from service and were not included in the list because now considered unusable. Others, such as deminer Lerici, retired from service last March, is still considered suitable for sale as the Maestrale class frigates, including the most 'old' will still be retired at the end of 2013.

Philippines

At the moment it is not yet clear which (or which) countries the ships will be offered. Whispers in the corridors of the ministry of an interest in the Mistral frigates from the Philippines, but there is nothing concrete. Nor is it clear what ships will be sold and which will be given away for free. The latter possibility, keeping in view of the Admiral. Part of the vessels on the list, in fact, require significant work and upgrades, and the Navy is aware that discarding will have to make them palatable for free. On the other hand, if they were to be scrapped would still represent a cost to the Italian State.

Peru 

Binelli Mantelli also supported the need to involve industry in the sale of Italian naval ships. The example to follow is the sale of two Lupo class frigates to Peru in 2005, the ships were withdrawn from service with the Italian Navy, renovated in the shipyards of Fincantieri and later sold to Peru. The agreement has thus resulted in an advantage for our Navy, but also for the Italian shipbuilding industry.

The transaction, however, poses two risks: the first is that the wave of enthusiasm is decided to reduce the excessive number of vessels in service, compromising the functionality of the Navy. The second risk relates to the implicit competition against Italian shipping industry: ship used to market low cost could halt the construction / purchase of new vessels, because potential customers would turn to MMT.

(Meridian)

PH Navy Needs Bigger Warships...!!

                             

                                         BRP Ramon Alcaraz (photo : US Embassy)

WASHINGTON D.C. - A ranking Philippine Navy official said they will need more and bigger ships to protect the nation’s maritime borders miles away from one of the longest coastlines in the world.

Rear Admiral Jose Luis Alano, Philippine Fleet (PhilFleet) commander, said the country has no choice but to acquire ships like the US Coast Guard’s Hamilton-class cutters because of seasonal changes in the South China Sea that make it treacherous to smaller vessels about half of the time each year.

Alano and Armed Forces chief Gen. Jessie Dellosa formally accepted delivery of the USCGC Dallas, the 378-foot, 3,250-ton sister ship of the Hamilton that was turned over to the Philippine last year and rechristened the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, during formal rites in Charleston, South Carolina May 22.

Bigger ships, especially like the high-endurance, all-weather Hamilton-class cutters, can sail through huge waves and stay longer at sea, he explained.

He downplayed reports that like the Hamilton, the US had stripped the Dallas of its advanced weapons and electronic equipment despite a request from Philippine officials last January to keep them. They retained the 76mm Oto Melara but removed the 2 Mark 38 25mm cannons and the more sophisticated sensors.

Alano told the Manila Mail that since the Dallas underwent its last major retrofit in 1988, many of the machinery and equipment aboard needed replacement anyway.

He added that the Philippine Navy is buying its own Mark 38 “Bushmaster” chain guns that can spew 200 rounds per minute to distances of as far as 6 kilometers. One will be installed on the Dallas (to be rechristened BRP Ramon Alcaraz) and the 2nd will be installed on the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, after the Dallas arrives in Manila sometime in November.

                                             Mk-38 Bushmaster (photo : militaryphotos)

Alano revealed they are also putting in new surveillance and command and control equipment. “This is part of arrangements when the vessel’s capabilities will be upgraded,” he explained. The equipment is being procured on “cash basis” under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

But he admitted their bigger concern is how to sustain the naval modernization after decades of neglect. He said the development of a private-sector defense industry is crucial to the military’s long-term plans to build a credible defensive deterrent.

That is why they are excited about an ongoing acquisitions of Philippine-made 65-foot Multi-Purpose Attack Crafts (MPACs). A local company is constructing them, borrowing technology from Taiwan and Sweden. The MPACs have a top speed of 48 knots.

Although they are not exactly the “big ships” the Philippine needs to operate in the disputed parts of the South China Sea, Alano said the deal can kick-start a modest but home-bred naval defense industry. In the US, he noted, private companies – not the military – are the most active proponents of military modernization and are not timid about lobbying the Pentagon and Capitol Hill for funding.

A domestic defense industry would also help create demand for workers that have the skills needed for staffing a modern military. Alano explained that unlike ground forces, the Philippine Navy will need to recruit and train additional sailors who can operate the electronics and complex gadgets standard to most new warships.

He said they plan to buy up to 40 MPACs but most of them will go to replacing older patrol crafts that have become too expensive to maintain.

Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the government will award 138 contracts worth about P70 billion (about $1.2 billion) before July to boost military modernization.

(PhilStar)

Thailand will Increase Defense Spending in Fiscal Year 2013..!!

                                Stingray Light Tank of the Royal Thai Army (photo : Aekz-53)

TSAMTO - Thailand plans to increase defense spending in FY 2013 7% - up to 180.8 billion baht (5.7 billion dollars). According to the budget committee of the government, the military budget in 2013 fiscal year 7.5% of total government spending, or about 1.45% of GDP.

According to "Jane's Defence Industry" in 2013 fiscal year that begins in October 2012, the needs of the Army will be sent to the country about half of the allocation for defense appropriations. Army will be 88.8 billion baht, Navy and Air Force - 35.2 and 33.9 billion baht, respectively.

The remaining 13 billion baht will be allocated between the Royal Guard, the Ministry of Defense and the Institute of Defence Technologies (DTi).

Funding DTi, established in 2008 to grow the most - by 35% (up to 1.2 billion baht). This step is carried out under the leadership of Thailand's efforts to increase the capacity of the national defense industry and research in the field of defense. In defense research organizations in Thailand have been some successes. In particular, in 2011 produced a prototype of the DTi MRL based on 302-mm setting WS-1 produced in China (Institute acquired the project and related technologies in China in 2009).

According to experts of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), resulting in devastating floods that occurred in 2011, the loss of the country amounted to nearly 50 billion dollars, bringing the country's GDP in 2011 will increase by only 0.1%.

At the same time, according to April's review of "World Economic Outlook," IMF experts believe that the Thai economy is the fastest growing in the region of Southeast Asia over the next two years. According to the forecast, Thailand's GDP will grow by 5.5% in 2012 and 7.5% in 2013.

(ArmsTrade)

Vietnam to Buy Amur Diesel Submarines from Russia ?

                                             Amur diesel submarines (photo : Rubin) 

Russia began to Vietnam to offer an upgraded version of the Kilo class submarines - Amur, this submarine is well suited for patrolling and fighting in the East Vietnam Sea.

According to analysts, if Vietnam could buy a fleet of Amur submarines, submarine forces of Vietnam will truly become a powerful force in the region.

Amur class submarines can also be equipped with missiles launched from submarines to attack ground targets, so it can fully protect all targets on the coast and the islands of the East Vietnam Sea South. Vietnam Navy can be a powerful force in the water in the South China Sea.

According to the Shanghai newspaper said Deputy Director of Military Technology Cooperation Russian design bureau that Ruby started looking for the export market for Amur diesel-electric submarines of the Russian. Being version submarine's inland with a number of submarines Lada in Russian Navy, the formation of the a force new combat underwater.

Deputy director of defense export company Rosoboronexport said Victor Komar said that Russia is committed to strengthening military cooperation and technology with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in some Southeast Asian countries, Russia is considered the greatest potential for arms export market.

With Amur - 1650 Vietnam will help protect the most perfect national sovereignty of islands.

Victor Komar said that the 'partner in Southeast Asia, most importantly, Vietnam, Russia Vietnam is considered one of the most important consumers of defense. Vietnam has ordered six submarines from Russia's Design Bureau 'Ruby' development, submarine factory is located in St Petersburg, is expected to begin transfer operations in 2014.

There Amur submarines, Vietnam will be deployed in the South China Sea, a very intimidating force under water.

However, Vietnam can not simply take six Kilo class submarines. Mr. Komar said: 'Vietnam Navy they needed a fighting strength of higher than submarine Kilo urgent and must be set up in six or seven years, they can not just rely on the Kilo submarines. According to analysts, if Vietnam could buy a fleet of Amur submarines, submarine forces of Vietnam will truly become a powerful force in the region '.

The Russian defense export company is actively working contacts with Vietnam. To end this agreement, the company said that Russia will play the Amur submarines, while Vietnam's shipbuilding enterprises involved in the project can produce submarines.

Russia not only design but also give joint cooperation in the production process and provide training for Vietnam and some submarine building technology advanced.

(VietnamToday)

Insitu Signs Malaysian ScanEagle DealVV

                                              ScanEagle UAV (photo : Shephard)

Insitu Pacific has announced that it has signed a contract with Unmanned Systems Technology (UST) for one ScanEagle system for leasing in Malaysia.

UST is a subsidiary of Composites Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM), and the contract was signed during DSA 2012 in Kuala Lumpur on 18 April.

The contract is part of an extension of the Malaysian Armed Forces' UAV leasing contract that sees the ScanEagle beinbg added to an existing leasing arrangement that currently operates the CTRM Aludra UAV.

'CTRM is a highly professional company that is leading the way in the aerospace market in the Asia Pacific,' Richard Hutchinson, Boeing International’s VP for South East Asia said at the signing.

'Boeing, through our subsidiary Insitu Pacific, is proud to be a partner with CTRM for this programme and we look forward to further increasing our collaboration with CTRM in the Malaysian marketplace in the near future.'

'We value our relationship with CTRM and we are pleased to provide our proven ScanEagle UAS to support CTRM in meeting emerging operational requirements,' Andrew Duggan, MD of Insitu Pacific added. 'CTRM are absolutely committed to providing highly advanced UAS solutions for their customers in Malaysia and we are committed to supporting them in achieving that.'

The contract is for one system, but Duggan could not disclose how many platforms were included in this.

(Shephard)

Lt. Kdr Anuar hero TLDM..!!!

ANUAR Alias (tiga dari kanan) bersama sebahagian anggota Paskal di Pangkalan TLDM, Lumut.

Oleh AKMAR HISHAM MOKHLES
``Biarpun bertugas tanpa senjata tetapi entah macam mana saya nekad mencabar kumpulan pemberontak bersenjata yang mahu membunuh wanita dan kanak-kanak yang tidak berdosa.
``Mungkin naluri kemanusiaan saya tidak membenarkan saya menyaksikan sahaja kekejaman berlaku di depan mata,'' kata Leftenan Komander Anuar Alias, 40.
Beliau merujuk kepada satu insiden semasa bertugas selama setahun sebagai Pegawai Pemerhati, Misi Pemeriksaan Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (PBB) di Angola (UNIVEM II) pada tahun 1998.
Sepanjang berada di sana, banyak pengalaman yang ditimba termasuk terbabit dalam beberapa insiden yang membahayakan nyawanya.
Satu daripada peristiwa yang tidak dapat dilupakan Anuar ialah tindakan lima lelaki daripada kumpulan pemberontak FAA yang menyerang hendap serta merompak sebuah trak yang berada di depan kenderaannya ketika sedang menyiasat keadaan laluan Huambo-Alto Alma pada awal bulan November 1998.
Waktu itu, beliau bersama seorang pemerhati dari Portugal dan diiringi dua tentera pengaman Namibia sedang meronda jalan berkenaan bagi memastikan ia selamat dilalui oleh orang awam.
Baru 10 kilometer meninggalkan Huambo, tiba-tiba pasukannya dikejutkan dengan bunyi dua das tembakan. Serentak dengan itu, beliau melihat trak yang berada 100 meter di depannya mula bergerak tidak tentu arah dan kemudiannya terbabas di tebing jalan diikuti kemunculan lima orang lelaki dari celah-celah semak sambil melepaskan tembakan secara membabi buta.
Tindakan mereka menyebabkan penumpang trak itu bertempiaran lari ke kawasan belukar manakala beberapa yang lain bersembunyi di belakang kenderaan pacuan empat roda yang dipandu Anuar.
Dalam keadaan kelam-kabut itu, pemberontak berkenaan kemudiannya menaiki belakang trak dan menembak dua orang wanita yang tidak sempat melarikan diri sambil memukul beberapa orang yang lain. Mereka juga mengambil beberapa guni sekoi dan gandum.
Melihat keadaan cemas tersebut, Anuar yang sebelum itu hanya mendiamkan diri selepas dinasihatkan oleh rakannya mula hilang sabar.
Beliau lantas keluar dari kenderaan dan menjerit `Hei You!' sekuat hatinya, menyebabkan kelima-lima lelaki itu terkejut dan melarikan diri tanpa sempat membawa guni makanan yang dirompak.
``Ketika menyergah kumpulan pemberontak itu, rasa bimbang tetap ada dalam diri saya kerana mereka bersenjata dan saya tidak.
``Tetapi tindakan kejam mereka menyebabkan semangat saya naik secara tiba-tiba sehinggakan saya berani bertindak,'' katanya yang ketika itu menjadi Timbalan Komander Pasukan di Bailundo dalam Wilayah Tengah Angola.
Selepas melihat mereka melarikan diri, Anuar memberanikan diri menuju seorang diri ke arah trak untuk meninjau keadaan.
Di situ, beliau mendapati pemandu trak itu telah mati selepas terkena tembakan. Di belakang trak pula, beliau melihat dua wanita mengerang kesakitan di samping mendengar suara kanak-kanak yang sedang menangis.
Pada masa yang sama, beliau turut ternampak kelima-lima pemberontak berkenaan sedang bersembunyi di dalam semak tidak jauh dari trak sedang memerhatikan tindak-tanduknya.
``Waktu itu saya mengambil sikap berhati-hati kerana bimbang mereka akan menyerang saya secara tiba-tiba pula.
``Sebagai langkah keselamatan, saya meminta dua tentera Namibia memberi tembakan perlindungan jika mereka menyerang saya,'' katanya yang sebelum itu pernah ditugaskan di Somalia pada tahun 1995.
Tiba di hospital, tanpa diduga Datuk Bandar Huambo telah sedia menanti. Beliau mengucapkan terima kasih dan lantas memeluk Anuar walaupun ketika itu bajunya berlumuran darah.
Menurutnya itulah pertama kali tentera PBB menyelamatkan nyawa orang awam yang selalu menjadi sasaran kumpulan pemberontak.
Selepas menyerahkan kedua-dua wanita dan kanak-kanak itu, tiba-tiba Anuar teringat semula suara yang didengarnya di celah-celah guni semasa insiden serangan tersebut.
Beliau lantas mengajak tiga anggota pasukannya untuk kembali semula ke trak tersebut mencari kalau-kalau ada lagi mangsa.
Malangnya, ketiga-tiga mereka enggan turut serta kerana bimbang diserang hendap oleh pemberontak FAA.
Lantaran itu, Anuar nekad untuk pergi seorang diri biarpun tanpa senjata. Tiba di sana, Anuar menyelongkar longgokan guni dan mendapati ada seorang lagi wanita yang cedera ditembak dan membawanya ke hospital.
``Apa yang saya tahu keempat-empat mereka akhirnya selamat walaupun ketika dibawa ke hospital keadaan mereka agak kritikal dan lemah kerana kehilangan banyak darah,'' kata anak kelahiran Puchong, Selangor ini.
Selain pengalaman tersebut, Anuar turut menempuh beberapa dugaan lain sepanjang berada di Angola dari 21 Januari 1998 hingga 17 Januari 1999.
Enam bulan sebelum itu, iaitu pada 30 April 1998, beliau pernah ditugaskan sebagai ketua kumpulan ronda untuk memeriksa keadaan keselamatan di N'gove.
Memandangkan pekan itu baru sahaja seminggu diserang oleh pemberontak, pasukannya diiringi dua buah kereta perisai jenis APC milik tentera Namibia.
Setiba di persimpangan N'gove, kereta perisai yang berada di belakang telah terlanggar periuk api anti kereta kebal.
Menyedari kejadian itu, Anuar mengambil risiko dengan turun dari kenderaan dan memeriksa keadaan sekeliling.
Dalam kejadian tersebut, dua tentera Namibia turut cedera. Mereka kemudiannya dihantar ke hospital manakala Anuar dan anggota yang lain meneruskan misi mereka sehingga selesai.
Beberapa hari sebelum beliau menyelamatkan empat mangsa serangan pemberontak FAA, Anuar turut berkesempatan menyaksikan sendiri serangan oleh pihak ANP ke atas Kampung Lomue.
Sebagai ketua kumpulan ronda, beliau telah memberanikan dirinya untuk memerhatikan serangan itu dari jarak 200 meter.
Tindakannya itu, tanpa diduga telah mematahkan tujuan asal penyerang-penyerang dan sekali gus membolehkan orang kampung mengambil perlindungan dari kedudukan beliau memerhati sebelum berundur ke tempat lain.
Pada akhir bulan November pula, pasukannya pernah terperangkap dalam kejadian tembak-menembak di satu kawasan serang hendap tentera Unita berhampiran pekan Atlo Hama. Pada masa itu seramai 50 anggota tentera Unita sedang bertempur dengan 17 anggota ANP dan tiga pemberontak FAA.
``Entah macam mana pemberontak tersebut kemudiannya lari menuju ke arah konvoi kami dan merayu perlindungan.
``Untuk mengelakkan ada nyawa terkorban, kami memuatkan kesemua mereka dalam dua buah kereta perisai dan menurunkan mereka di tempat yang lebih selamat tidak jauh dari situ,'' ujarnya.
Kesemua peristiwa tersebut telah membuktikan tentang keberanian, dedikasi serta keupayaan Anuar mengawal keadaan krisis tanpa panik.
Malah bapa kepada enam anak ini telah berjaya menyempurnakan segala tugasnya biarpun adakalanya dalam situasi yang amat berbahaya demi keamanan sejagat.
Di atas keberanian luar biasa, kecekalan serta kebolehannya itu maka Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah telah berkenan menganugerahkan Pingat Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) kepada Ketua Skuadron Tempur Pasukan Khas Laut (Paskal) ini pada 2 Jun 2000.
Penganugerahan itu, memberi makna yang cukup besar kepadanya serta menjadi kebanggaan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) sendiri memandangkan Anuar adalah pegawai tentera laut tunggal yang menerima PGB sehingga kini.
``Walaupun telah menerima PGB, itu tidak bermakna saya hebat. Saya masih mempunyai banyak kelemahan yang perlu diperbaiki bagi memastikan saya dapat memberi sumbangan terbaik kepada TLDM dan negara,'' katanya merendah diri.

(Sources from : http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2002&dt=1102&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Tentera&pg=te_01.htm&arc=hive) Sumber Utusan