WikiLeaks dedah duta AS ragui penjelasan KL

(Buletin Online) - Duta Amerika Syarikat ke Malaysia memaklumkan kepada pemerintahnya awal tahun lalu bahawa pegawai-pegawai kedutaan meragui penjelasan pentadbiran Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak mengenai kecurian enjin jet pejuang F-5 milik TUDM pada 2008, demikian menurut maklumat yang didedahkan oleh WikiLeaks.


Dokumen yang ditandatangani oleh Duta James Keith itu berkata kedutaannya berkongsi 'kesangsian' yang diluahkan oleh satu siri komen media dalam talian mengenai pendirian Putrajaya bahawa enjin jet itu dicuri oleh dua individu berpangkat rendah dan pihak di peringkat tinggi tidak terlibat sama sekali.

'Kami berkongsi beberapa kesangsian yang dilahirkan oleh blog-blog mengenai kes kerajaan dan penjelasan siapa di sebalik kecurian enjin,' kata dokumen tersebut.

'Dalam (proses) penyelarasan dengan pihak Washington, Post terus menekankan untuk mendapatkan laporan lengkap bagaimana kecurian itu berlaku dan penempatan muktamad enjin-enjin (jet pejuang), serta untuk mengingatkan GOM (kerajaan Malaysia) tentang keseriusan isu itu dan keperluan mengambil tindakan pembetulan,' kata kabel yang disiarkan oleh laman blog Malaysia Today, semalam, dan ditukil oleh laman berita The Malaysian Insider pada hari yang sama.

Difahamkan, 'Post' merujuk kepada seorang pegawai politik Amerika yang mempunyai pejabat di kedutaan di Kuala Lumpur.

Mahkamah Sesyen sedang mendengar kes Sarjan N. Tharmendran dari Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM) dan ahli perniagaan, K. Rajandran Prasad, yang menghadapi pertuduhan bersubahat mencuri dan melupuskan enjin pesawat milik TUDM itu.

Pada 6 Januari tahun lalu, Tharmendran, 42 tahun, tidak mengaku salah terhadap tuduhan bersubahat dengan Laskar Udara Mohamad Shukri Mohamad Yusop, mencuri dua enjin pesawat F5 jenis J85-21 di Bangunan Material Processing Shed Matra 1, Pangkalan Udara TUDM Sungai Besi, di sini, pada 30 April 2008.

Rajandran, 38 tahun, pengarah sebuah syarikat pembekalan, pula tidak mengaku salah terhadap tuduhan dengan sengaja menghapuskan dua enjin TUDM itu di alamat 49 Jalan TS 6/6 Taman Industri Subang pada 30 April 2008.

Kededua enjin itu dibeli pada 1972 dengan harga RM303,570 ($123,644), dan bukannya RM50 juta seperti dilaporkan pada awalnya.

WIKILEAKS: Update on the F-5 engine scandal

A chorus of commentary in online media has expressed incredulity at the Government's position that the thefts were carried out solely by two relatively low-level individuals and that higher-ups in the military and elsewhere were not involved. We share some of the incredulity expressed in the blogosphere about the Government's case and explanation of who was behind the engine thefts. In coordination with Washington, Post is continuing to push for a complete accounting of how the thefts occurred and the ultimate disposition of the engines, and to remind the GOM of the seriousness of the issue and need for remedial actions.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 000012

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS AND INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2020
TAGS: PM, PGOV, MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA: UPDATE ON F-5 ENGINE SCANDAL

REF: A. 09 KL 1016 -- F-5 FOLLOW UP
     B. 09 KL 1013 -- MALAYSIAN F-5 ENGINES CASE

Classified By: Political Counselor Brian D. McFeeters for reasons 1.4 b and d.

Summary and Comment
1. (C) Malaysian government officials continue to communicate little information directly to Post regarding the missing F-5 engines (reftels).  Most of the information on the scandal to date has come thru the local media, which reported on January 6 that police arrested and charged one Air Force sergeant and a business owner with the theft and illegal sale of the engines. 
The Attorney General and Defense Minister both were quoted in the press as saying that they were satisfied with these results.  They gave no indication that investigations would continue into possible broader complicity in the thefts, nor what remedial actions are being taken by the GOM to assure that such security and procurement breaches would not occur again.
A chorus of commentary in online media has expressed incredulity at the Government's position that the thefts were carried out solely by two relatively low-level individuals and that higher-ups in the military and elsewhere were not involved. 
On January 6, the Embassy's Office of Development Cooperation received a letter from the RMAF which provided a brief update on the missing engines case and indicated a willingness to respond to additional inquiries from the USG once the GOM investigation is completed (see para 7).
2. (C) Comment:  We share some of the incredulity expressed in the blogosphere about the Government's case and explanation of who was behind the engine thefts. In coordination with Washington, Post is continuing to push for a complete accounting of how the thefts occurred and the ultimate disposition of the engines, and to remind the GOM of the seriousness of the issue and need for remedial actions.
We look forward to a readout of next week's meeting on this issue between PM's PDAS and Malaysian Ambassador.  The Ambassador and DCM have pending meeting requests with senior MFA officials.  End Summary and Comment.
What the Media has Been Reporting
3. (SBU) Government-influenced media reports continue to provide evolving, if changing and conflicting facts pertaining to the disappearance of the two F-5 engines.
-- The most recent reports (January 7) indicate that the engines were stolen separately -- one on December 20, 2007 and the other on January 1, 2008 and that the discovery of the theft occurred on May 22, 2008.
-- Media reports say the RMAF filed a police report on August 4, 2008 after they conducted their own investigation.
-- The destination of the engines has been cited as both Argentina and Uruguay, although early accounts by the police reported in the press also indicated the engines went through or to the Middle East, and specifically Iran.
-- Some independent online news portals claimed that the engines ended up in Iran.  At a press conference, the Attorney General reportedly became defensive when asked about the Iran connection, and all references placing the engines in the Middle East or Iran have since been removed from the state-run media.
-- Specific details regarding the May 2008 RMAF investigation and the August 2008 police investigation have not been released, although both the Attorney General and Defense Minister have implied that no one was held accountable as a result of those investigations.
-- As to where the engines currently are, Attorney General Gani Patail attracted attention with a January 5 comment quoted in the Star newspaper that, "I really do not know what is being done to it now, whether the engines are used as scrap metal or as sinker for fishing."
-- The press reported that Police arrested RMAF Sergeant N. Tharmendran and company director Rajandran Prasad on January 6 in connection with the two missing F-5 engines.  Tharmendran was charged with conspiring to steal the engines, while Rajandran was charged with intentionally disposing of items that he knew to be stolen.
-- Attorney General Gani had previously said on January 4 that "many people" were involved, but did not indicate that the investigation into the perpetrators would continue.  According to Gani, "what is important is recovering the engines."  No information has been released regarding the identities of the buyer and/or any middlemen.
-- Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was quoted by the Malaysian Insider on January 6 as saying at a public event that no further investigation or special inquiries were necessary, stating after the arrests that he was "satisfied with the Attorney-General's action and investigations into the case."
 Zahid also downplayed the severity of the theft, stating on January 7 that "The contract to purchase was made in 1972.  At that time, the engine's price, including the afterburner, was $121,428 each," basing this on the exchange rate at that time. (Note: the original value of the missing engines given by the newspapers was listed as $15 million each. End note.)
-- Public condemnation of the results has been muted by the state-run media, but the online blogosphere has been swift, one-sided, and damning of the GOM's arrests and conclusion that Tharmendran and Rajandran were the only ones involved.
4. (C) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has kept itself at arms length from the scandal.  Ambassador and DCM have not yet been able to secure meetings with senior MFA officials to discuss this issue (among other bilateral issues). 
MFA Principal Assistant Secretary (Americas Division) Mohamad Radzi Jamaluddin told Poloff January 6 that the Defense Ministry has the lead and described that Ministry as being "elusive" in its handling of the case. 
Radzi opined that the newspapers were publishing a lot of misinformation, and that they were often factually incorrect.  He suggested that press reports that the GOM has reached out to the USG for assistance in the investigation were false, because any such request would have been routed through the MFA.  (Note: Post has no record of any request for assistance on this case from the GOM.  End Note.)
Letter from the RMAF
5. (SBU) Following ref A discussion between Office of Defense Cooperation chief Lieutenant Colonel Steve Ma and Brigadier General Azizan bin Shaari, Director of Materiel with Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF), ODC chief received an official letter from the RMAF on January 6.
Begin text:
05 January 2010
OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION ON THE MISSING F5E GE J85-21 ENGINES
Ref:
A. FMS Case MF-D-SAJ
B. FMS Case MF-D-SBE
C. FMS Case MF-D-SBK
D. FMS Case MF-D-SCA
E. Malaysian Government Contract No: PERB/K&B/107/84.
F. The discussion between Assistant Chief of Staff Material / LTC Stephen C. Ma on 28 Dec 2009 at the Ministry of Defense, Malaysia.
  1. The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) presents its compliments to the Office of Defense Cooperation and the United States Embassy Kuala Lumpur.
  2. In pursuant to the discussion vide reference F, the RMAF regrets to inform that there are two (02) F5E GE J85-21 engines found missing from the inventory believed to be stolen on the 26th May 2008.  The serial numbers of the engines are as follows:
    a. E227718
    b. E227856
  3. The RMAF had conducted an internal investigation where procedures with regards to handling and transportation were re-examined and tightened.  A report had been lodged with the Royal Malaysian police on the 4th of August 2008 to continue with the investigations and to pursue with criminal prosecution against individuals linked to the theft.
  4. The RMAF fully understood the requirements of the United States government on Foreign Military Sales (FMS) policy in relation to this incident but unable to notify earlier pending completion of investigations by the Royal Malaysian Police.  We believed that the investigation is nearing its conclusion and will follow with prosecution by the Attorney General's Chamber.  We will endeavor to notify the progress on this matter to the United States Government through your office as soon as we have more information.
  5. Thank you.
(signed)
DATO' SRI RODZALI BIN DAUD
Gen RMAF
Chief of Air Force
End Text
KEITH

WikiLeaks: Malaysia didn’t inform US of missing jet engines

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 — Putrajaya failed to inform Washington that two “US-supplied” F-5 fighter jet engines had gone missing since May 22, 2008, despite having at least “three opportunities” to come clean, according to leaked United States diplomatic cables released recently.

Whistleblower website Wikileaks released three US diplomatic cables on April 6, 2011, which revealed confidential dispatches over the stolen jet engines between US diplomats based here and in Washington. Two of the cables were sent in December 2009 while another was sent in January 2010.

The leaked cable said the Malaysian Defence Ministry had failed to notify the US of the missing jet engines despite the fact American officials had the legal right to be informed of any developments, under the country’s Arms Export Control Act.

“The Malaysian Air Force should have been acutely aware of the requirement to advise the US immediately of missing engines.

“Malaysian government officials continue to communicate little information directly to Post regarding the missing F-5,” the cable quoted an official, as saying. The cable was dated December 23, 2009.

The leaked cables cited at least three opportunities in which the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) should have notified the US of the missing jet engines:

“In January 2009, in accordance with USAF regulations, the Malaysian Air Force submitted an inventory recertification listing of J-85 engines to the USAF J-85 engine program manager. There were no discrepancies identified to Post in this inventory,” according to the cable.

It is understood “Post” referred to the US official based in the embassy here.

“In March 2009, the Malaysian Air Force advised Post they had sent a J-85 engine to Orenda Company in Canada in 2006 for repair. Subsequently, the engine developed faults and the Malaysian Air Force was attempting to ship the engine back to Canada for warranty work.

“During this period, the Department of State Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers (PM/RSAT) advised that such a transfer, even if for repair, required a formal application from Malaysia and USG approval. Malaysia completed this application in April and State PM/RSAT approved the temporary transfer to Orenda in July 2009.

“In May 2009, the USAF and Malaysian Air Force conducted a routine bilateral J85 engine review conference. No issues of missing engines were raised to Post during this conference,” according to the leaked cable.

The leaked cables suggested that US officials were dissatisfied that they were not duly informed of what had happened and had to rely on local media reports on the matter, which they have claimed were inaccurate.

“After extensive recent media reporting on missing F-5 aircraft engines, it is important for the US Embassy to receive a briefing from the Government of Malaysia on this case,” said the leaked cable.

US officials also stated that the government had yet to provide an explanation of measures designed to prevent future theft of US military equipment supplied to them (Malaysia).

“The Government of Malaysia’s promptness and thoroughness in replying to these requests for information will have a bearing on the ability of the United States government to continue supplying such military equipment to the Government of Malaysia,” added the leaked confidential report.

Another cable dated January 10, 2010, said Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had “kept itself at arms length from the scandal” even as Opposition lawmakers attacked the government in what is seen as one of the government’s most embarrassing public scandals to date.

It said that the RMAF had only sent an official letter to the US Office of Defense Cooperation chief Lieutenant Colonel Steve Ma informing them of the missing jet engines on January 6, 2010.

“The RMAF fully understood the requirements of the United States government on Foreign Military Sales (FMS) policy in relation to this incident but were unable to notify earlier pending completion of investigations by the Royal Malaysian Police.

“We believed that the investigation is nearing its conclusion and will follow with prosecution by the Attorney General’s Chamber. We will endeavour to notify the progress on this matter to the United States Government through your office as soon as we have more information,” said the letter, which was signed by Chief of Air Force General Tan Sri Datuk Seri Rodzali Daud.

The third cable dated December 28, 2009 was not unclassified and only mentioned that the RMAF would offer an explanation by January 8, 2010.

Two individuals were charged over the missing jet engines — former air force Sergeant N. Tharmendran and company director K. Rajandran Prasad.

They were jointly charged in the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court on January 6, 2010 in connection with the theft of the missing F5-E jet engines.

Tharmendran was accused of stealing the engines in December 2007 at the Subang RMAF air base.

He was arrested in September 2009.

Rajandran was accused of disposing of the engines on April 30, 2008.

The theft was a major embarrassment for the government following reports that the country’s first submarine — KD Tunku Abdul Rahman — could not dive in tropical waters.

The prime minister had vowed that there would be no cover-up in the high-profile case, which occurred during his tenure as defence minister while the current minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, had claimed that it was an inside job.

The RMAF discovered that the jet engines and their maintenance records were missing on May 22, 2008 and a police report was lodged on August 4 the same year.

The engines, purchased in 1972 at a cost of RM303,570, and not RM50 million as initially reported when the story broke, are now reportedly in Uruguay.

Enjin jet: Dipaksa mengaku, didera dalam tahanan

(Harakahdaily) - Anggota Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM), Sarjan N Tharmendran yang menerima pertuduhan bersubahat mencuri dua enjin pesawat F5 milik TUDM Januri lalu hari ini tampil mendedahkan penderaan yang dilakukan terhadapnya sepanjang berada dalam tahanan.
Tharmendran, 42, yang hadir bersama peguamnya, N Surendran di Parlimen hari ini mendakwa dia telah mengalami penderaan fizikal yang teruk dan dipaksa untuk mengaku bersalah dalam kes kecurian enjin tersebut.
Tharmendran memberitahu, seorang ketua pegawai penyiasat berpangkat mejar telah diarahkan untuk menyelesaikan kes itu dan dibenarkan menggunakan apa cara sekalipun bagi memaksa dia mengaku bersalah.
"Sepanjang tempoh tahanan saya bermula 2 Julai 2009, selama 60 hari saya ditahan, mereka tidak memberitahu keluarga di mana saya ditahan. Saya dipaksa mengaku bahawa saya bersalah mencuri enjin tersebut.
"Sepanjang tempoh siasatan, ketua pegawai penyiasat dipanggil penglima tentera udara untuk menyelesaikan kes ini dengan secepat mungkin dan boleh menggunakan apa cara sahaja asalkan dapat selesaikan kes ini," katanya pada sidang media di lobi Parlimen hari ini.
Ceritanya juga, dia didera oleh pegawai berkenaan dan tidak tidur selama tiga minggu di dalam bilik yang kecil dan secara berterusan dipaksa mengaku bersalah.
Dia dipakaikan topi keledar dan kepalanya dipukul menggunakan kayu kriket dan kayu golf sehingga topi keledar yang dipakai mengalami keretakan.
Sepanjang dalam tahanan itu juga, beliau turut mendengar tahanan lain didera dengan teruk sehingga tangisan dan jeritan mereka dapat didengarinya.
"Semasa saya disoal siasat, terdapat tiga hingga empat orang yang disoal siasat. Mereka turut didera dan saya dapat mendengar tangisan mereka merayu agar tidak dipukul. Namun saya tidak pasti sama ada mereka mahu tampil membuat pendedahan seperti yang saya lakukan ini," katanya.
Tharmendran turut menyatakan rasa tidak puas hati terhadap TUDM yang langsung tidak mengambil tahu mengenai apa yang berlaku terhadapnya sepanjang tempoh tahanan namun selepas dia dibebaskan, dia dipanggil untuk bertugas kembali.
Tempoh perkhidmatan Tharmendran sepatutnya berakhir pada 28 Mei tahun ini.
"Selama enam bulan saya ditahan di penjara Sungai Buloh, mereka tidak pernah tanya apa berlaku pada saya.
“Tapi bila saya keluar dengan peguam saya, baru mereka datang suruh saya bertugas. Saya rasa ini sangat tidak adil," katanya.
Semalam, Ahli Parlimen Kapar, S. Manickavasagam menghantar usul penderaan dalam tahanan untuk dibahaskan di Dewan Rakyat namun ianya ditolak speaker, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia atas alasan ianya dalam siasatan polis dan tidak perlu disegerakan.
Sementara itu, Ahli Parlimen Bukit Gantang, Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin dalam sidang media yang sama mahu Suruhanjaya Diraja ditubuhkan bagi menyiasat kes kecurian enjin jet yang menjejaskan imej pertahanan negara.
"Kita mahukan satu siasatan menyeluruh, jawatankuasa atau Suruhanjaya Diraja ditubuhkan untuk mengkaji apa sebenar yang berlaku dalam kes kecurian ini. Rakyat nak tahu bagaimana enjin yang penting itu boleh hilang. Kita sedia maklum bahawa ada peraturan sebelum semua barang melibatkan ketenteraaan dikeluarkan. Inikan pula enjin jet.
"Kami ahli Parlimen mahu menunjukkan bahawa kehilangan dua enjin merupakan satu maruah yang besar yang menjadi satu bahan ketawa seluruh dunia hari ini. Kes ini berlaku pada 2007 dan mencerminkan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib kerana beliau adalah menteri pertahanan ketika itu. Kami mendapat berita bahawa bukan dua enjin ini sahaja yang lesap, banyak lagi alat-alat lain yang mahal harganya hilang dalam simpanan," katanya.
Tegasnya, Tharmendran telah dikambinghitamkan oleh pihak tertentu bagi menyelesaikan kes itu daripada terus didedahkan kepada umum.
"Kita lihat sarjan Tharmendran ini seolah-olah dijadikan kambing hitam untuk menyelesaikan perkara ini," tegasnya.
Ahli Parlimen Batu, Tian Chua pula berkata, keselamatan Tharmendran masih belum terjamin kerana TUDM masih mendakwa dia sebagai kakitangan mereka.
"Kes ini sangat memalukan negara sebab kita usulkan perkara ini. Keselamatan sarjan Tharmendran belum terjamin kerana pihak tentera masih mendakwa bahawa dia seorang dalam perkhidmatan jadi bila-bila masa boleh gunakan paksaan untuk tangkap dia.
"Kes ini seolah-olah ada konspirasi untuk tidak mahu siasat dan dedahkan realiti sebenar sebab sudah menjadi tumpuan masyarakat," katanya.
Tharmendran didakwa bersubahat dengan Laskar Udara Mohamad Shukri Mohamad Yusop, untuk melakukan kecurian dua enjin pesawat F5 jenis J85-21 itu di Bangunan Material Processing Shed MATRA 1, Pangkalan Udara TUDM Sungai Besi.
Bagi kesalahan itu dia boleh didakwa mengikut Seksyen 380 Kanun Keseksaan yang dibaca bersama Seksyen 109 kanun yang sama, yang membawa hukuman penjara sehingga 10 tahun dan denda jika sabit kesalahan.
Minggu lepas, Tharmendran dibebaskan dengan jaminan sementara menunggu perbicaraan.
Jaminan terhadap Tharmendran sebanyak RM50,000 bagi kesalahan bersubahat mencuri dua enjin pesawat F-5E milik TUDM dijelaskan oleh bapanya, N. Nagarajan selaku penjamin.