Updated:
Hashim to take on Shahril in JB
Read the above story at FMT.
After his comments on Lahad Datu (about how his ex colleagues in the Army had messed up), I thought the retired General would accept nothing less but a seat in Lahad Datu.
Or, at the very least, in Sempoerna where the terrorists killed, gorged, beheaded our commandos, where he could take on Shafie Afdal ...
Original piece
“We have purchased so many weapons, we have held so many Limas, but how could the enemy still land in our country without permission?” - Quoted at a press conference to announce the establishment of Pakatan's "shadow" NSC headed by former army chief Hashim Hussein
Enemy can land in our country with permission, lor? Sure or not?
Typo error again, or just a plain stupid?
These politicians took all the trouble to lure one former army chief willing to dance to their tune and then they still messed things up!
The FMT report:
[You may also like
Lahad Datu: Pakatan leaders don't give a damn! by Bujai]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakatan Rakyat forms its shadow National Security Council to be headed by a former army chief.
PETALING JAYA: Former army chief Hashim Hussein today questioned the deployment of soldiers from Peninsular Malaysia to deal with the Lahad Datu incursion by Sulu gunmen when the matter could have been handled by Sabah-based troops.
He asked if there had been any political reasoning for the marginalisation of Sabah-based troops as, according to him, the army personnel from two bases in Sabah were more than enough to handle the crisis.
“There is a commander stationed in Sabah, and there are two army bases there. They are the ones who are more well-versed in local geography and demographics. Why weren’t they deployed?
“The total number of the enemy was not so many, why did we have to send the highest-ranking officials from here? Why didn’t we leave it to the local commander?
“The Sabah troops were not given priority. Even when the gunfight broke out in Kampung Tanduo, it was the special police force which was deployed to the frontline.
“As a person with military background, I think there is an involvement of political elements in the Lahad Datu incident,” said the former army chief who retired in 2002.
Hashim raised these issues at a press conference called by Pakatan Rakyat today to announce the setting up of Pakatan’s People Security Advisory Council (MPKR).
Also present were PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, PKR’s Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul, PAS’s Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar and former deputy secretary-general of the Home Ministry Ismail Hamzah.
The MPKR will function as Pakatan’s shadow National Security Council to scrutinise the government’s defence and security policies, procurement of weapons and provide alternative plans.
Hashim is the interim chief of the council. He said the council would advise Pakatan on the assessment of threats, defence strategies, force capability and capacity-building.
He said the council also aimed to raise public awareness on the security issues, adding that the other members of MPKR would include lawyers, former civil servants and former army personnel.
Why weren’t we better prepared?
Mahfuz, meanwhile, said MPKR would equip the opposition pact with better defence and security knowledge in case it wins power in the coming general election.
He also criticised the National Security Council for deviating from its original functions, saying that it is now the guardian of BN political power.
He said the National Security Council’s weaknesses were clearly shown in the Lahad Datu incident as it failed to correctly analyse intelligence reports collected to prevent such incursions.
“We have purchased so many weapons, we have held so many Lima (Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition), but how could the enemy still land in our country without permission?”
“Is it because they [the authorities] only purchased weapons to get commissions?” he asked, adding that the Pakatan’s MPKR would ensure transparency on the matter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the first place, I don't think former army or police chiefs should allow themselves to get lured into partisan politics. Somehow, it does not do justice to the honorable uniform.
But if they insist, make sure they are not made to look like fools.
In the second place, this shallow NSC is such a pathetic afterthought, at best. The Government of Malaysia is way ahead of the curve: we have defeated the enemy and is proceeding with ESSCOM to ensure security in not just Lahad Datu but the entire coastline! Read TMI's report,
Hisham: Inspection centres operational in ESSCOM from Tuesday
