Zahid cries sabotage over reports on sub’s defects
(The Star) BATU PAHAT: It is an act of sabotage. This was the reaction of Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday to the leaked information that led to unfavourable press reports about the country’s first submarine, the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman.
“The person or persons who leaked the information on the submarine’s defects may have intentionally done it to sabotage and undermine the competency of the country’s defence system,” he said, adding that he suspects the culprit or culprits could be involved in the maintenance work of the submarine.
“This is what I suspect but I am going to leave the investigations to the Royal Malaysian Navy chief (Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Jaafar), Dr Ahmad Zahid told reporters at the Umno Sri Gading division delegates meeting here.
He said leaking information pertaining to the defence system was “very serious” and accused those involved of being traitors.
“The people involved with the maintenance work for the submarine were tied under a secrecy contract and should have never leaked the information.”
The navy had earlier denied the reports that the submarine has been rendered unfit to dive because of “major defects.”
Calling the reports irresponsible, the RMN chief said they were inaccurate, misleading and had tarnished the navy’s reputation.
The reports appeared in an English daily in February and last week, alleging defects caused the French-built submarine to be unable to dive.
The defects which affected the high pressure air blowing system, was reportedly discovered on Jan 17 when the submarine was “upstream” (above water) for routine maintenance works.
He clarified that prior to arriving safely in Kota Kinabalu on Sept 17 last year, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman had sailed approximately 8,300 nautical miles with 31 days submerged out of the 43 days at sea.
On another matter, Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is an Umno vice-president, said component parties of the Barisan Nasional should be working harder to win the voters’ confidence rather that squabble about seat allocations.
“They always fight for seats in the government but they are not delivering or working as hard as those in Umno,” he said.
