MINDEF TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED IN PROBE INTO MISSING JET ENGINE

PENANG (Malaysia), Dec 19 (Bernama) -- The Defence Ministry (Mindef) will
leave no stone unturned in its probe into the disappearance of a F-5E fighter
jet engine owned by the Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF).

"Although the loss was detected in 2007, internal investigations were
undertaken while police also probed the matter.

"The investigations revealed RMAF's logistics system was fullporoof.
However, the shady activity might have been carried out staff in the lower rungs
in cahoots with outsiders," he told reporters after launching the Penang and
south Kedah territorial army company, here Saturday.

He said as the matter was still under investigation, RMAF could not give
detailed information and besides legal issues were also involved.

"Should there have been any accidents involving any of the engines, the
whole system will be investigated and this also applies to the disappearance of
assets whereby related assets will be investigated," he said.

Local dailies reported Saturday that police had arrested four individuals,
including RMAF officers, regarding the missing F-5E fighter jet engine worth
about RM50 million (US$14.55 million) from the Matra 1 Warehouse at Sungai Besi
Airbase at the end of last year.

The service and maintenance record for the engine was also reported missing,
believed to have been sold to another party in Europe.

Zahid said the armed forces had also reorganised its systems since the loss
and there more frequent monitoring on procedures, inventory, and control of
assets had been put in place.

He added that Prime Minister Najib Razak was being updated on the progress
of the investigations.
--BERNAMA