Malaysia Defence & Economy Forum

[Nike]

Meanwhile we are still modernizing and slimming our TLDM ... It would be better if we can give and/or sell cheaply our decommissioned Laksamana Class to our brother Indonesia ...... .. So ..we can help them to realize their dream as a the Guard for the region ...

To reflect its contents.... The title of this thread should be "Malaysia Defence and Non Defence Issues Forum" ...

Better u contributing something positive ler, cam mana kot isinya kau punya mulut cuman rant aza

 

[Nike]

Malaysia slashes 2017 defence budget
25th October 2016 - 10:00by Gordon Arthur in Hong Kong

The defence budget announced by Malaysia on 21 October has taken a serious slash compared to a year earlier. The amount allocated to the Ministry of Defence for 2017 is MYR15.06 billion (US$3.6 billion), equating to a 13% drop.

The budget has fallen to 2012 levels, and it represents the largest single cutback since 1998.

Most of the budget is for emolument or management expenses (MYR11.68 billion), but it also includes a development expenditure for buying new equipment. The latter has suffered an MYR440 million reduction to MYR3.37 billion, the new figure representing the lowest development expenditure since 2014.

Major acquisition programmes will continue, however, including six Second-Generation Patrol Vessel - Littoral Combat Ships for the Royal Malaysian Navy, ongoing deliveries of AV8 Gempita 8x8 armoured vehicles and the final A400M transport aircraft.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told reporters on 23 October that other projects in addition to the above will not be affected: MD 530G helicopters, refits for Scorpene submarines, and upgrades to C-130, Hawk and S-61A-4 aircraft.

Interestingly, operational expenditure has increased 1.68% to RM13.683 billion.

With tensions in Eastern Sabah remaining high, money and assets continue to be prioritised to secure the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE). Thus, RM323 million is going on personnel deployment along the border, which may indicate a proposed ESSCOM brigade and border regiment have been funded.

A sea base and helicopter forward operating base are being established. AV8 and AV4 armoured vehicles will deploy to ESSZONE, and Hawk jets and H225M helicopters will be located at Labuan Air Base.

The Malaysian Army will receive the largest portion among the three services (RM5.42 billion), but all services are suffering tighter finances. The air force suffers the most with a 34% drop, while the navy’s allocation is 25% lower.

With such a squeeze, question remarks remain over the air force’s long-running Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme, with no sign of any order coming soon to replace degenerating MiG-29s. Some sources speculate that the Rafale and Typhoon are now the two strongest remaining contenders.

The sharp drop in military expenditure stems from stiff economic headwinds being faced by Malaysia, especially with low commodity prices and a plunge in global oil prices. However, defence seems to have borne a disproportionate hit.

Malaysia’s purchasing power has not been helped by a 30% depreciation of the ringgit compared to the US dollar in the past four years.

Malaysia is now spending 1.2% of its GDP on defence. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, essentially the national coast guard, receives its funding under the Prime Minister’s Department rather than the defence budget.

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/malaysia-slashes-2017-defence-budget/

 

[UMNOPutra]

NSOF to serve as Malaysia's first-responders to terror threats

KUALA LUMPUR: The newly-established National Special Operations Force (NSOF) will serve as the nation’s security forces’ first responders to terror threats. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the unit, consisting of police, armed forces and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) personnel, will serve as an integrated team in the face of terror attacks. “We are not apologetic for any measures taken by the nation’s security forces,” he said at the launch of the NSOF at the Sungai Besi army camp today.

The prime minister expressed confidence that the NSOF would prove effective in upholding Malaysia’s security against all threats, including the Islamic State terror group. Najib said that although the NSOF personnel will be seconded from the three agencies in the initial stage, designated posts will be made once the unit is fully operational. This, he said, is to prevent any disruptions to the operations of the agencies involved. Malaysia, said the prime minister, is the first country in the world to form an integrated security force to respond to terror threats. He said the NSOF is almost fully operational with 17 officers and 170 personnel, who will be based at the Sungai Besi army camp.

Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/10/183898/nsof-serve-malaysias-first-responders-terror-threats

 

[UMNOPutra]

RAF Typhoons Claim Win In Exercise With Malaysian Flankers
Aviation Week & Space Technology

The Royal Air Force (RAF) does not usually claim victory in an exercise—it prefers to stay quiet about such matters. But British Eurofighter Typhoon pilots report that they defeated Malaysian Sukhoi Su-30MKM Flankers in mock battles this month, with a new helmet-mounted sighting system regarded as essential. Warm-up drills for Exercise Bersama Lima 16, held in Malaysia Oct. 4-21, provided the first opportunity for RAF Typhoons to be pitched against the Su-30MKMs of the Royal Malaysian ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/combat-aircraft/raf-typhoons-claim-win-exercise-malaysian-flankers

 

[powastick]

Malaysia will sign a contract to purchase Littoral Mission Ships from China when Prime Minister Najib Razak visits Beijing next week, according to a Facebook posting by the country's Ministry of Defence.

The text of a speech to be delivered by Malaysian defense minister Hishammuddin Hussein was posted on Facebook on Tuesday, but was later removed after Reuters asked a defense ministry spokesman for comment.

The purchase of the patrol vessels, if it proceeds, would be Malaysia's first significant defense deal with China and comes amid rising tensions in the South China Sea and as the United States and China compete for influence in the region.

Malaysia's ties with the United States became strained after the Department of Justice filed lawsuits linked to a money-laundering investigation at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), which Najib founded and had overseen as chairman of its advisory council.

Najib is traveling to China on Sunday for a week-long visit.

"On November 5, 2016, the Defence Ministry will sign a contract for the procurement of Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) with SASTIND (the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense), which is an important part of the schedule during the Prime Minister's official visit to China," the Facebook post quotes Hishammuddin saying.

However, a video recording of the speech at the Malaysian defense ministry by Hishammuddin does not mention this contract.

A defense ministry spokesman declined to comment and the prime minister's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Littoral Mission Ships are fast patrol vessels that can be equipped with a helicopter flight deck and carry missiles. They are primarily used for coastal security, maritime patrol and surveillance, but can also be deployed for disaster relief and search and rescue operations.

China claims most of the South China Sea as its territory. But Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have rival claims to parts of the waterway, which commands strategic sea lanes which carry some $5 trillion worth of trade a year.



PEAK IN TIES

Ties between Malaysia and China reached a new peak in December when China came to Najib's rescue with a $2.3 billion deal to buy assets of scandal-hit state fund 1MDB, helping ease Najib's concern over the firm's mounting debt.

Najib is traveling with dozens of government leaders and business people to China. In a statement on Wednesday, he said Malaysia was committed to strengthening friendship with China and pushing ties to "new highs".

The push to strengthen China ties come after July lawsuits filed by the U.S. Justice Department implicating Najib in a money-laundering scandal.

The lawsuits allege over $3.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB, some of which ended up with a 'Malaysian Official 1,' identified later by U.S. and Malaysian authorities as Najib.

Najib has denied any wrongdoing and said Malaysia will cooperate in the international investigations.

Malaysia could buy up to 10 of the littoral mission ships at a cost of approximately 300 million ringgit ($71.43 million) each, said Lam Choong Wah, senior fellow at REFSA, a Malaysia research institute. He is also the author of a book on Malaysian military capability.

"The truth is we could have bought these from a number of countries. But China is the only country that has provided political support for Malaysia during the 1MDB scandal. This is payback for that political support."

Najib's visit follows that of the Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, who announced the country's "separation" from the United States and signed a raft of memoranda of understanding for Chinese investment in the country.

Last week, Malaysia announced a 2 billion ringgit ($476.19 million) cut to its 2017 defense budget from last year's levels.

A project to develop an amphibious corps was among those jettisoned, said Euan Graham, director of the international security program at the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think-tank.

"It was the U.S. marines who were liaising with the Malaysians on that," Graham said.

"So a U.S.-backed initiative has effectively died now," Graham said. "At the same time, a new bridge has been opened to China. If you put those together, whether it's been by Malaysia's design or not, it does send a combined signal of pulling back from the U.S. and outreach to China."


(Additional reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi and Rozanna Latiff in Kuala Lumpur. Editing by Bill Tarrant.)

 

[cirr]

18 ships, of which 2 to be built at a Chinese yard and the rest at a Malaysian yard.

True or false?

 

[powastick]

18 ships, of which 2 to be built at a Chinese yard and the rest at a Malaysian yard.

True or false?

I don't have any source on that.

 

[SBUS-CXK]

Malaysian is truly Asia

What are they doing?

 

[powastick]

What are they doing?

Voodoo search for MH370. Black Magic. Some evil spirit hide it among the clouds.

 

[Nike]

I don't have any source on that.

Look at Marhalim abas post at Malaysian defense

What are they doing?

Bomoh, vodoo like ritual

 

[SBUS-CXK]

Voodoo search for MH370. Black Magic. Some evil spirit hide it among the clouds.

...... OK

 

[Beast]

18 ships, of which 2 to be built at a Chinese yard and the rest at a Malaysian yard.

True or false?

It better RMAF buys L-15 advance trainer.

 

[beijingwalker]

Malaysia to buy navy vessels from China in blow to U.S.
Fri Oct 28, 2016 | 5:52am EDT

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-china-defence-idUSKCN12S0WA

 

[cloud4000]

Key graph in the article:

Malaysia's ties with the United States became strained after the Department of Justice filed lawsuits linked to a money-laundering investigation at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), which Najib founded and had overseen as chairman of its advisory council.

Hard to do business with a country that filed lawsuits for money-laundering against you. Malaysia sending signal to US with this agreement with China.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Key graph in the article:



Hard to do business with a country that filed lawsuits for money-laundering against you. Malaysia sending signal to US with this agreement

It would be an extremely rare occurrence for the US to sell a newly developed navy ship to any country.