Price of “ciri-ciri yang berbeza”
A submarine is a vessel or a warship capable of operating below the surface of the sea.
Similarly, Seacat or Seawolf missiles are guided weapons designed to counter aerial threats.
Ironically, when in Malaysian hands, we cannot exploit their full potential.
“The supplier and contractors are very reliable and capable. DCNS SA is the best submarine builder in the world. What should we be worried about?” said the RMN chief.
What should we be worried about? It sounds every bit like the British. They were still not worried even after Japanese soldiers had overrun Kota Bharu. “We are confident. Our defences are strong and our weapons efficient.” That was the Order of the Day issued in Singapore on December 8, 1941. (The day the ‘tuan’ died)
And now, the Admiral is not worried either. Good grief.
Mr Admiral, Sir, had I been in your position, I will be very worried. A new vessel built by the best submarine builder in the world, purchased at a cost higher than the Scorpenes of Chile and India, has already lost its main asset – the ability to dive – while still under warranty. It look like there will be more defects once the warranty period is over? Will you not be worried of the possibility that someday it could be the other way around – it refuse to surface after a dive?
If I remember correctly, this is not the first case. On its homeward voyage, and with more than half dozen DCNS engineers onboard, the same thing happened. Was that for real or just a joke by the crew?
The Admiral may not be worried because it happened in peace time. Will he still not worry if it failed to submerge while under attack? I am sure he would have thought the consequences of such failure. The submarine will be sitting duck waiting its turn to compliment KD Seri Inderapura as artificial reef.
Perhaps, the boat’s failure to submerge is just its way of substantiating the claim made by the Defence Minister in May 2008:
“Lagi pun kapal selam kita ada ciri-ciri yang berbeza dengan kapal selam yang ditempah oleh negara lain sebab ada kemampuan tertentu yang lebih canggih yang saya tidak perlu sebutkan di sini kerana ia merupakan unsur keselamatan”
“Ada ciri-ciri yang berbeza?” As it is, the apparent “ciri-ciri yang berbeza” and “kemampuan tertentu” is its inability to submerge while under warranty. No one can disagree with the Defence Minister that the Malaysian Scorpene is very different in the sense that it could remain on the surface and could probably remain so, indefinitley. Wonder whether cheaper Scorpenes acquired by Chile and India have similar characteristic?
That “ciri-ciri yang berbeza” reminded me of the days when RMN placed an order for a frigate in 1966. The ship, built according to Malaysian specifications, was supposed to be delivered in 1969 but limped home in 1972, three agonising years behind schedule. Subsequently, the ‘proto-type’ KD Rahmat spent more time moored to the jetty than roaming the Straits of Melaka and South China Sea.
Any hope of RMN learning from its mistake vaporised when again in 1992 it ordered two frigates with “ciri-ciri yang berbeza”. The delivery of KD Jebat and KD Lekiu were delayed for more than three years. They only arrived in Malaysian waters in 1999. The cause of delay was reported to be due to software integration problem. Until now, we have yet to hear or witness in video the potency of the Seawolf Missiles carried by the two frigates, except for the story spin by the government media ten years ago.
And now we have another vessel with “ciri-ciri yang berbeza” and “kemampuan tertentu”.
A submarine’s main asset is its ability to dive or crash dive in emergencies. Once the boat is deprived of that unique asset, it will be just another expensive surface vessel with limited defensive capability.
During WW2, a U-Boat (submarine) could crash dive and disappear from the surface in under 20 seconds. So far, Malaysian submarine has broken the record by taking 20 weeks or more to submerge.
Could the “ciri-ciri yang berbeza” and “kemampuan tertentu” justify the exorbitant amount spent if at the end of the day, the three frigates and the submarine cannot serve their full potential?
Deciphering the words of the Admiral, “KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is expected to be ready for its tropical water trial on Feb 18.” means that, since arriving in Malaysia in September last year, the USD 580 million ‘cylindrical metal’ has yet to see what lie beneath the surface of Malaysian waters.
So much for ”ciri-ciri yang berbeza” and ”kemampuan tertentu”.
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February 17th, 2010 at 9:53 am
“During WW2, a U-Boat (submarine) could crash dive and disappear from the surface in under 20 seconds. So far, Malaysian submarine has broken the record by taking 20 weeks or more to submerge.”
DON’T BE SUPRISED IF THE TIME TAKEN TO RESURFACE IS LONGER THAN 20 WEEKS, OR MAY NOT RESURFACE AT ALL.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:33 am
sebenarnya banyak lagi pembelian bukan2 dalam TLDM. Kami yang kena bersihkan tulang tapi mereka yang kenyang makan isi.
February 17th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
In Malaysia, military top brass have no say in the purchase and they only become yesman. The final decision still come from defence minister. His cronies or his relatives will have a big chunk which in turn will pass the bigger slice to some account oversea.
The only share the Generals and Admirals get will be the blame. They have no choice but swallow their pride or else go for early retirement.
February 17th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Aiiyaa…they no speak and no read England or France maa, so they cannot understand the operating manual. One lady that speak 3 musketeer language got blown up, so how? Make stupid face laa.
February 17th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
RMN will never learn as long as BN rule the country.
February 17th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
After spending all those Billions, what major embarrassment. Must be the ghost of Altantuya haunting the boat!
February 18th, 2010 at 6:45 am
Najib is not giving reasons but execuses for the expensive purchase because he knows the opposition are not strong and not many are well versed in military requirements. We in the service know the ciri-ciri yang berbeza are all bullshits. Go and ask those sailors operating the boat and they will tell you there is nothing different. The only different is the bank account of some select few. Porrrah, I can’t wait to see these robbers behind bars. No no no, I don’t mean bar where they can fondle breast and backside of barmaids like that JJ. Keep them behind bars for ten years, ten strokes and 10 hours daily hard labour for draining the country’s wealth. Send their spouses to share the same jail with rapers and sodomists.
February 19th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Menteri pertahan AKA duda Altantuya laki bini business minded. Menteri pertahan sekarang satu keluarga business minded. Dalam business halal haram sama jer. Akan datang semakin banyaklah kebakaran tak dapat dikawal dan semakin bertambah pulak tukun tiruan dari kerabat KAPAL DIRAJA. Sebuah LCT tenggelam, tiga buah mengganti semuanya dengan ‘CIRI-CIRI ISTIMEWA”. Kalau kapal selam tak boleh menyelam, ciri istimewa LCT pulak tak boleh landing kerana ramp tak boleh bukak.
Gamaknya, semakin ramailah JUTAWAN MELAYU dari Bagan Datoh, Perak.
February 19th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Sir,
Who to blame? Najib and the rest could not have been where they are if not for the Malay Votes. Tp save Malaysia from disaster, we have to vote BN put of office come 13GE.
February 21st, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Gua agaklah lebih baik berikan jawatan menteri pertahanan kepada bekas general atau laksamana sebab dia orang lebih tahu. Kalau bagi kat ahli politik, depa asyik pikiaq nak buat duit. Pastu bagi alasan ada ciri istimewa kat kapal atau heli yang nak beli.