Malaysia Faces Difficulty in Repeating Stolen Weapon Incidents

During the past 10 years, whenever news about the missing of some military weapons or equipment emerged in the local newspapers, these new would without fail become sensational topic for the nation. By the count of hands, we can easily recall a few of these stolen military weapon incidents. On 2 July 2000, some members of an extremist organization by the name of Al-Maunah disguised as senior military officers, went straight to the military camp in Gerik and walked away with more than 100 guns, firearms and ammunition.

In early 2006, some Steyr rifles were stolen in a number of military camps in the country. In 2009 when news about the stolen two sets of F-5Ejet fighter engines were exposed and carried by the local news, Malaysians' reaction toward the theft of such massive items was traumatically heated up. The mysterious of this theft and the path in which the two stolen jet engines were removed from the Kuala Lumpur air force base have left unresolved puzzle to the people.

Comprehensive and Secure System
Weapons and military equipment are considered as "sensitive items." These are also the great asset to any nation. As such the military in each country will have a set of comprehensive and secure system to store, to manage and even track the whereabouts of their military equipment. In this regard, how do we rate the military weapon management system in Malaysia? How much room Malaysia can upgrade and improve the weapon management system in the country?

It was difficult for Malaysians to know the scene behind the military weapon theft in the past years and it was also difficult for Malaysians to know the total military weapon management control procedure in the country because all these were considered by the Government as military secrets. Moreover it was also rare for our Malaysian Government in wanting to comprehensively explain incidents leading to the theft of military weapons and equipment to the people from the beginning to the end.

The Consequences
Putting Malaysians' speculation of the military weapon theft incident aside, people could only ponder upon the consequence of the theft or think about how and what the Ministry of Defense should do to strengthen weapon supervision and management. People would also ponder upon the possibility that some Malaysians' might have connection with the illegal international weapon smuggling syndicates.

Nevertheless, Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail, Brigade General of the Malaysian Army who has the overall responsibility for the army camps and who is also the Army Chief subjected to shoulder the responsibility of stolen or missing military weapons told Oriental Daily News that Malaysians should not be over worried about the safety and security of the country' military weapon storage and management problems. He has given his assurance of the safe keeping of these military weapons and equipment.