KUALA LUMPUR - DAP national deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw has called on the government to reveal the truth behind the disappearance of the turbojet engine from the Kuala Lumpur Sungai Besi RMAF airbase since 2007.

"What is the effective action taken? Were these engines worth RM50mil or more? Were they sold to South Americans?" Tan said to reporters here on Sunday.

So many question marks

A General Electric J85-21 afterburner turbojet engine for the single-seater F-5E Tiger 11 and RF-5E Tigereye was allegedly stolen and sold to a South American firm.

After the media expose, Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Saturday that a group of low-ranking officers were in cahoots with civilians in the theft.

Four people have been detained in connection with the jet engine disappearance, but further details of the investigation has been sketchy, said Tan, who is also MP for Kepong.

General sacked

Media reports said a brigadier-general, who was a department head at the time, and 40 other armed forces personnel were sacked last year over the incident.

Ahmad Zahid insisted the ministry would ensure military inventory and assets are properly controlled following the serious security lapse.

"The Public Accounts Committee will discuss the matter and decide on the step to be taken. The people have the right to know. After all, the jet fighters
have been purchased with public funds," said Tan.

Billion$ in military spending with our money

"Defence purchases of any country mean massive public spending. It cost hundreds of million of ringgit to buy a military submarine. The same applies to jet fighters. A squadron may cost tens of billion of ringgit. This needs stringent scrutiny to prevent massive wastage and corruption," said Tan.

Ahmad Zahid had said the disappearance of the engine in 2007 was a complicated and difficult case as it involved an international syndicate which had used RMAF officers and personnel to achieve its objective.

"RMAF bought not just Tigereye, but also Russian MIG fighters for which it has bought spare parts from China or India. After a time, it replaces the MIGs with Russian Sukhoi fighters. Can you imagine the amount of money spent?" asked Tan.