POLITICIANS can be mired in self-belief or delusion, that they can't see the wood for the trees. The stolen RMAF jet engines have been traced to Uruguay.

The point is not that they are old or state-of–the-art. No respectable person is concerned if these engines can power a lawnmower, or are involved in dog-fights in air-space, defending our territory. That is the least of our worries. The crucial points cover the circumstances of their disappearance and the way this sordid affair was mishandled.

The unexplained delay in announcing this disappearance and the ensuing collusion is mind-boggling. Government property was taken from under our very eyes. It wasn't an opportunistic theft, of something lifted off the back seat of an unattended car. It was a planned and highly sophisticated operation, from a high security military facility. If not for the routine maintenance check, the theft might not have been discovered at all, or till much later.

It is incredulous that only low-ranking officials were supposedly responsible. Yet we discover that senior officers and a general were sacked, but for unrelated matters. Now the latest revelation is that defense secrets have been sold to foreign governments. It is no wonder that every man, woman and child feels their security threatened.

So what else is new? If sand can be sold, again by low ranking officials, to a neighbouring country, might we wake up one day and find more than just sand, or jet engines or state secrets that are missing? If our low ranking officials are very devious and smart, then maybe it is they who should be heading our armed forces or government departments. They appear more intelligent and industrious than the current leaders who are left looking like they slept on the jobs. The perceived level of incompetence seems incredible.

But when state secrets are sold, then this is treason. We should not be satisfied with the issue being resolved through diplomatic channels only, simply to preserve bilateral relations. We need sterner, more immediate and visible action. It appears that everything of strategic importance is cloaked in secrecy. It is worrying too, that of late, more items related to national security have been involved.

If these jet engines are old and decrepit, then there is little, if any point in transporting them back here. After all it is our money – taxpayer's money – that will be used to foot the bill. We have utilized time and resources tracing them. We have lost our integrity and reputation, and compromised our security. It would be more sensible to recover the alleged RM50 million that someone made in this illegal transaction. And it may be sensible to sell the engines to someone, in South America, who is interested, or else sell them for scrap. No point throwing more good money after bad.

Are we concerned about the technicality of the engines being old or of the latest technology? Surely the pertinent points relate to our integrity and national pride.