Keeping our nation safe

Looks like the big procurements have been held back but still, Malaysians should have enough reason to feel safe, a RM30 billion one outlined on Friday. This combined budget allocation for the police and the military is huge and ought to reduce the anxieties over security. Drones, the multi-purpose maxi-practicality machines, are going to be the order of the day.

In his budget speech, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said RM17.3 billion would be allocated to the Ministry of Defence to implement capacity-building plans for the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM). Although this is just fractionally lower than the allocation last year, the buying plans still look sizable.

Another RM13.1 billion has been put aside for the police to enhance safety and security in the country as well as to continuously reduce the crime rate. One of the major procurements listed is the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, the second of four ordered by the country, and this will be delivered next year.

The aircraft will give the Royal Malaysian Air Force the most advanced heavy transport capability in the region and increase the capability for extraordinary range of military and humanitarian operations. Also being considered are six Littoral Combatant Ships (helicopter carriers) which would be timely given the piracy situation off the coast of Eastern Sabah as well as in the Straits of Malacca and South China Sea, Very Short Range Air Defence weapons system and armoured vehicles.

This could at least tackle Malaysia’s coastal vulnerability which was highlighted in 2013 when 100 armed Filipinos landed by boat and launched attacks, sparking a major security crisis. However, in the light of the disappearance of flight MH370 since last year, the budget proposal did not call for the purchase of equipment specifically to improve the defence radar system as well as assets which could come in handy in search and recovery process like the P-3 Orion or P-8 Poseidon. Also obviously not on the agenda is a revamp of the country’s air strike force.

At one time, Malaysia’s top priority was to replace its ageing Russian MiG-29 fighters with 18 modern jets that would join a fleet of Boeing F/A-18Ds as well as Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30MKM warplanes. Defence officials were even assessing Boeing’s newer F/A-18E/F, French firm Dassault’s Rafale, Swedish manufacturer Saab’s Gripen, and the Typhoon from European consortium Eurofighter.

Also out is the proposed purchase of attack helicopters which could help overcome border intrusions in Sabah. But given the current economic situation, all this will have to wait. But it is nice to know that the Armed Forces will be equipped with the latest technology, including the use of drones or Unmanned Airborne System, to improve intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capacity.

This will complement well with what the police are planning with their own proposed acquisition of drones to take care of crowd and traffic control in addition to the latest acquisition of Agusta Westland helicopters for its air unit. For the police, the RM20 million allocated for the Safe City Programme in 60 black areas, among others, to provide pedestrian walkways and lighting in selected areas is most timely to address the increase in crime. It is part of the RM13.1 billion set aside for improvements in the force.

Among the initiatives that will be implemented are: RM155 million for building two new district police headquarters (IPD) in Lawas, Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah while 10 IPD and five police stations are under construction; 2,000 units of affordable houses for members of the police force, among them, in Rawang while other areas are being identified; RM36 million allocated to build offices, quarters and upgrading of immigration detention depots; and RM50 million for enhancing security measures in prisons.

A great piece of news was the announcement of an additional 500 motorcycles and 500 cars for the police patrolling unit with a total allocation of RM35 million. It is sure to go a long way to handle criminal activities which do not seem to abate despite all kinds of strategies. Added to the cheer list is that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is to be strengthened with programmes and training to enhance integrity and reduce leakages as well as corruption; the number of MACC officers will, therefore, be increased as required. Now to fully utilise all of the above to make us feel more secure. The writer is an award-winning columnist

source : www.nst.com.my