KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia’s two new submarines, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak, may be about to sail into a new controversy with the plan to send them on a promotional tour to all Malaysian ports for public viewing.
Unimpressed Kota Kinabalu parliamentarian Dr Hiew King Cheu said: “This is actually going a bit too far, because these tactical subs are not toys and not for pleasure rides.
“The cost and expenditures involved is definitely going to be very high and is a gross waste of the taxpayers’ money.”
The French-built submarines are mired in a controversy after allegations surfaced that they could not dive and were not fully armed.
Hiew was commenting on a disclosure by Deputy Defence Minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad in Parliament last Wednesday that the ministry will organise a promotional tour of the submarines.
Hiew also questioned the procurement of two millions spares parts for the two submarines after parliament was told that RM50 million was needed annually to maintain the two submarines.
Latiff also said the Scorpene submarine maintenance cost over a six-year period would be about RM25 million each and each submarine has two million parts and is equivalent to 14 Boeing 747s.
He also said that, under the contract, it was guaranteed that the submarines could be used at any given time to meet the needs of the navy, failing which a penalty could be imposed on the manufacturing company.
“We cannot believe and understand this. Are these subs so fragile and easily broken down that we have to store such a huge stock of spare parts and components, which is literally for every part of the subs?” Hiew asked.
He also contended that the annual maintenance cost of RM50 million was extravagant and exceptionally high.
“If for a period of six years, it will be a staggering RM300 million; the money spent on the purchase and maintenance of the submarines could have been better used to provide free housing for the poor Malaysians and to eradicate poverty in the country.
“We just don’t see any real justification and logic behind the huge spending,” he said. malaysia update
