Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Malaysiakini :LETTER | Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan (Patriot) would like to see the issue of the non-delivery of the six helicopters purchased by the Defence Ministry in 2016 brought to a decisive closure and action be taken against the culprits. The
issue happened under former defence minister Hishammudddin Hussein’s
watch and he has so far not spoken a word but instead had the audacity
to ask how the Defence Ministry planned to spend the RM15.6 billion from
the 2020 budget.
The Defence Ministry had lodged a report to the
MACC in June this year for the purchase of the McDonnell Douglas MD530
lightweight combat helicopters and various news media have reported on
it.The
six helicopters that was meant for the Army’s use cost more than RM300
million and to date RM 113 million has been paid. The contract, signed
in November 2016 following a demonstration during the Langkawi
International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima 2015), was to have
the helicopters delivered in two batches, in July 2017 and December
2018.
It was reported that the purchase was through an appointed agency that was close to a very senior official of the ministry.
The
appointed agent, which had no previous experience in dealing with
military assets, was allowed to conduct direct negotiation with the
supplier. The process of procuring the military assets did not go
through due diligence where, normally for vital military assets, market
research and value management checks should be done. The assets must meet the technical, tactical and operational capabilities expected by the end user.
It
was also reported that the original price quoted was US$60 million, but
after three months the price was inflated to US$70 million. Patriot
finds baffling the speedy conclusion of the contract for such an
important defence procurement, ie, in just 18 months with full delivery
expected in less than two years. It would appear that this was an
off-the-shelf procurement where the six helicopters were all lined up
to be sold. This procurement has been flawed from the outset.
Some questions that need to be answered by the previous defence minister are:
1. What actually happened to these undelivered helicopters where the deal was made during the previous administration?
2.
Was there truly a need for the Malaysian Army to procure the
helicopters in view of the logistical support required to maintain it?
3.
Why was there a seemingly hurried arrangement to conclude the contract?
Why was there the need to appoint an agent, whereas the procurement
could be done by the government itself?
4. The agent was reported
to have failed in his responsibility to see the contract through. Had a
commission been paid to the agent?
Patriot is of the view that there were serious irregularities in the procurement of these specialised helicopters. Since
the contract was sealed by the previous government, it is imperative
for the previous defence minister and all officials associated with the
procurement to assume responsibility for the dereliction of duty.
Action
must be taken against wrongdoers no matter how high their positions
are, including those who have retired from the civil service and from
the military.
MOHAMED ARSHAD RAJI is president of Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan.
