Hisham asks if Defence Ministry able to buy assets with reduced budget – Nation

KUALA LUMPUR:  The Pakatan Harapan government needs to do a reality check on its promise and allocation pertaining to the Defence Ministry in its recently tabled Budget 2019.

Former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who said Pakatan had reduced the ministry’s budget, questioned if it was able to buy military assets on its restricted allocations.

“The Defence Minister (Mohammad Sabu) said the ministry would like to purchase some (military assets) but the allocation has been reduced by RM2bil.

“If before (during Barisan Nasonal), we were unable to purchase such assets, how is he going to convince the people that they can do so now with the Budget ythat has been tabled,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Thursday (Nov 15).

Hishammuddin said the allocation for maintenance of military assets haf also been reduced.

“I think they have to balance between what they have said, what is on the table, and what has been tabled in the Parliament right now.

“If you say you’re going to purchase assets, where is that money coming from?” he questioned.

“I also don’t see the direction of Mindef (Defence Minisry) now in terms of relationship with China, and, most importantly, the trilateral ties between Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia in handling terrorism in the South of Mindanao.

“The air and sea patrol…I don’t see that happening. I am worried about what is being said and the facts of reality and transparency in the Budget,” he added.

Hishammuddin also said that while Mohamad Sabu said that Sabah would be protected, allocations for the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) in Lahad Datu had been dropped.

“And now you are talking about offshore bases. The figures have been reduced, all the figures are there for everybody to see,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said he was still in constant communication with leaders in China regarding a certain issue.

“I know who this question is related to. I will inform the Inspector-General of Police if I get information,” he said without mentioning the name of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.

Recently, Hishammuddin had offered help in his personal capacity to bring Jho Low back to the country to get closure over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) controversy.