Malaysia - the big push

last SG · 2005-12-11T23:26:20+00:00

Haha, yeah, well yes that is true too. Its best to anticipate that the a potential enemy would be fluid in their war planning.

Paladin SG

Malaysia - the big push

By Robert Karniol JDW Asia-Pacific Editor
Bangkok
Additional reporting Dzirhan Mahadzir JDW Correspondent,
Kuala Lumpur

Following on from a concentrated period of acquisition activity, the Malaysian armed forces (MAF) should focus much of the forthcoming Ninth Malaysia Plan on putting their new capabilities into service.

Admiral Tan Sri Dato' Sri Mohd Anwar Bin Hj Mohd Nor, the Chief of Defence Force (CDF), highlights one new priority. "We will now expand the envelope toward area defence capabilities. It's all going to medium-range missiles," he said. Looking beyond the next five-year plan, he added: "After 2010 we envisage improving and enhancing our information warfare and electronic-warfare capabilities and at the same time having a fully developed network of command and control, communication, surveillance and intelligence systems. We intend to maximise technology for quicker reaction and response times to any contingency."

Emphasis on ground forces

The next five-year plan should include the introduction of a medium-range system, with China's KS-1/KS-1A currently favoured over the Russian-made 9K37 Buk-1. These are likely to be supplemented by additional short-range systems: probably China's FN-6, which would be produced locally, or either the Igla or new Igla-S from Russia.

In the longer term, some analysts suggest, the MAF may seek to establish a joint structure to control the co-ordination of ground-based air defence.

Together with air defence, perhaps the army's only other high priority centres on bolstering command and control (C2). This should include new tactical communication equipment and further digitisation.

Otherwise, sources say, the Ninth Malaysia Plan may include provision for additional 105 mm howitzers and multiple rocket systems to further strengthen firepower, the former because the 105 mm Model 56 pack howitzers are nearing the end of their service life.

Link to original article
http://www.janes.com/defence/land_forces/news/jdw/jdw051125_1_n.shtml

Link to specs of the KS-1
http://www.sinodefence.com/missile/airdefence/ks1.asp

beavan SG

all the more to threaten us with..

Airforceone SG

Furthermore they have the help of Russians in aerospace technology.

"Russian arms producers are attending the international aerospace exhibition of weapons, also called a "marketplace under the palm trees." They are Sukhoi, MiG and Irkut famed for their fighter planes and unmanned aerial vehicles in Langkawi.

Sukhoi deputy general director Alexander Klimentyev said that their planes would not fly to Langkawi this time. Only models of multi-role fighter planes manufactured by the corporation and mock-ups of weapons used by these aircraft will be on show. There will also be supersonic the R-27P, R-73E and RVV-AE air-to-air missiles on view, as well as the supersonic 3M80E-class air-to-surface missiles (the famed Moskit, which can likewise be employed in the ship-to-ship configuration), Kh-58E, Kh-59MK and Kh-59ME. Civilian developments include a family of Russian Regional Jets (RRJs) and the Su-80GP, a multi-role cargo and passenger plane. The company will demonstrate its versatility and high scientific, technical and technological standards, but legendary Su flights and aerobatic stunts usually shown by Russian pilots on such occasions and warmly applauded by the public will not be featured this time.

And it is not that it costs a good deal to bring combat fighter planes over such a long distance - half way across the world. Sukhoi, which attends Langkawi exhibitions regularly, has shown them many times, including demonstration flights. The corporation is now filling an order for Malaysia to develop the multi-role Su-30MKM fighter. Deliveries are to begin in 2006. As contracted, one of the future "Malaysians" is already on the assembly line and is being fitted with onboard equipment, including that made by the French firm Tales. To bring it out of the plant, suspend work for even a short time, just over a week, and to de-install the new avionics and install the old ones, is not practical either in commercial or in production terms.

"We used these arguments with LIMA-2005 organizers," said Klimentyev, "and they agreed." But most important of all, according to the Sukhoi deputy general director, "the exhibition is not just a demonstration of one's products and seeing the latest things offered to the Southeast Asian arms market by your business competitors and partners, but also meetings and negotiations with regular and promising buyers of Russian weapons." It is this business aspect that is the most valued element of international exhibitions, he believes.

Sukhoi general director Mikhail Pogosyan, who will also attend LIMA-2005, will have a scheduled meeting and negotiations with the Malaysian prime minister. A government delegation invariably visits this exhibition and never passes by without calling at the Russian display and discussing military and technical cooperation between the two countries and its prospects with leading Russian producers, including a project to expand and enlarge the joint Malaysian-Russian service center to repair, maintain and modernize aircraft equipment supplied earlier to the country and neighboring states.

Russian arms export suppliers are aware that they suffer from one big problem which often lets purchasers down in competitive bidding. That is unjustified delays in delivering spare parts, tools and accessories. For many years it has been Moscow's Achilles' heel. The reason was that spare parts contracts and contracts for the sale of aircraft and submarines had been handled by one state intermediary - Rosoboronexport - and the time it took to collect the necessary signatures for spares deliveries equaled that for the sale of several warships. But ships fetched millions and billions of dollars, while spare parts were just peanuts and an unprofitable and tedious business.

Now the tables are turned. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing weapons manufacturers to export spare parts themselves without excessive paperwork. Arms makers are happy with the new arrangement. On top of keeping up their name or production brand, they can make good money out of supplies. As Klimentyev said that out of the two billion dollars Sukhoi earns from exporting its fighters, about 300 million comes from spare parts, tools and accessory kits. That is good arithmetic. And its reputation does not suffer, gaining more weight instead. Alexander Denisov, first deputy director of the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, said that the share of spare parts in Russian arms exports had begun to grow - from 300 million dollars last year to 700 million expected this year.

And if one more joint service center to repair, maintain and upgrade Russian military equipment or its affiliate appears in Southeast Asia soon, it will benefit everyone - Russian arms makers, Malaysia and its neighbors whose armies and navies use Russian weapons."

Shocked

idwar SG

Malaysia got no choice:

1. Thais up north having conflict with Muslims which can spill over into Kelantan...

2. Indons with overlapping claims in oil-rich sea off Borneo. Indon navy today sent 40 ships and 5000 troops for "exercise"

3. Small brother down south sometimes pain in arse......

Gun SG

hmm..didn't know all these defence spending is related to KL's inadequecy with a "small brother". Envy or plain Bully ?

Arthas79 SG

Talk is cheap. Buy first. I can`t seem to find any other country that plans to buy such and such equipment only to let themselves down later. It is as if such reports become part of her detterent policy. Admittedly, a lot has to do politics. In that, they have my sympathies that comes with a grin Wink

Anyway, the report confirms the disparity in tech superiority between the two forces and the large lead the SAF has carved for herself.

Also, it`s true and judging by relations this year(at least), Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore find Malaysia a pain in the arse if not thier own military enthusiats.

AF2005 SG

not to mention corruption. with that kind of hundreds of millions, everyone wants to get a hand to grab some commissions.

1% for A, 3% for B, 5% for c, and so on. Its the way they do things there.

when the time has come to commission these equipments, they will find many parts missing.

BadzMaro SG

Welcome to Malaysa.. Truly Islamist... *soon*

that is nothing.. u guys should check out our 90% Bumi policy.. give or take another 10 to 20 yrs.. Malays gonna kill of all the chinese in Peninsular n Borneo island will revolt n with 70% ethnic chinese.. do a whoop ass on them n we split off.. n civil war. game over. so dun worry about us.. Laughing

charlemagne SG

Sounds pretty threatening Shocked

LazerLordz SG

that's one scenario discussed before... Shocked hmm.Brunei,Sabah and Sarawak forming a confederation back in the late 60s...

spiderweb6969 SG

I got the full story from here http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=51358

COUNTRY BRIEFING - MALAYSIA - The big push

Robert Karniol is JDW's Asia-Pacific Editor and is based in
Bangkok.

Additional reporting Dzirhan Mahadzir JDW Correspondent,
Kuala Lumpur

Much of the forthcoming Ninth Malaysia Plan, covering 2006-2010, should focus on putting new capabilities into operation The Joint Force Command should be implemented during this period Equipment priorities include moving from short-range to medium-range coverage
As part of Malaysia's transition from a counter-insurgency force to a conventional one, the country is looking to make a substantial package of improvements ranging from intelligence capabilities to personnel issues.

Robert Karniol reports

Following on from a concentrated period of acquisition activity, the Malaysian armed forces (MAF) should focus much of the forthcoming Ninth Malaysia Plan on putting their new capabilities into service.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak (see Interview) speaks of a continuum dating from the early 1990s, when he first held the defence portfolio. This process, he said, centres on transforming the MAF to become a balanced conventional force.

Admiral Tan Sri Dato' Sri Mohd Anwar Bin Hj Mohd Nor, the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) since April 2005, concurs. "The Eighth Malaysia Plan [covering the period 2000 to 2005] was mainly about bringing the MAF towards equipping itself as a conventional force. It was a transition from our earlier counter-insurgency warfare capability and will overflow into the ninth [Malaysia] plan," he said.

The flurry of big-ticket procurements that characterised Malaysian force development over the past five years was heightened by delays in implementing several projects originally planned for the preceding Seventh Malaysia Plan. These had been deferred because of funding constraints brought on by the region-wide 1997 economic crisis.

Major procurements included the MAF's first submarines, first main battle tanks (MBTs) and multi-launch rocket systems together with new armoured personnel carriers and multirole fighter aircraft. The armed forces would like to see this pace maintained, but independent analysts are less sanguine. "Procurement spending will be reduced [under the Ninth Malaysia Plan] due to heightened costs under the eighth plan, partly resulting from a stronger euro," one source asserted.

This transition to operational service suffered a delay when a restructuring centred on establishing the Joint Force Command (JFC) was put off pending deeper consideration. The JFC had been due to assume operational control of the MAF from 6 September, mainly along the Australian model, after just a year of study. However, the required permanent billets have yet to be funded.

Defence Minister Dato' Sri Najib told JDW that the JFC will be implemented during the Ninth Malaysia Plan but Adm Tan Sri Anwar points to several interim developments. "We are now internally restructuring within our capabilities to look into joint ops," he said. This was due to include the launch in late November of the MAF's first joint task force covering Sabah state in Borneo. A command-post exercise around the same period aimed to focus on the joint tactical level for the first time.

Developments in the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) grouping Malaysia and Singapore with Australia, New Zealand and the UK complement this activity. This multilateral mechanism has been shifting to stress joint operations since 2000 and is now introducing elements relating to non-traditional threats. The FPDA is working toward its first joint command post exercise in 2007 and first joint field training exercise in 2011.

Another refinement involves at least partially activating the new coast guard before year-end, which should relieve the navy of its maritime-enforcement mission in internal waters and offshore to a distance of 50 n miles. Legislation establishing the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency gained royal assent in June 2004; this consolidates activities previously undertaken by several agencies. Assets and personnel are being drawn from the navy together with police, customs and fisheries departments.

Combat readiness

Admiral Tan Sri Anwar says that the Ninth Malaysia Plan will also emphasise "enabling systems" intended to enhance combat readiness. Another set of initiatives are geared to promote "the best corporate management practices to improve the military", including risk-management practices and the planned introduction of "balance scorecards" to measure results from investments in capability.

"I am setting up a study group on defence logistics, a complete review of our current practices," said the CDF, to illustrate the enabling effort. "It's going to be a massive exercise. The study will take about a year and we'll implement it over the [remainder of the] ninth plan."

Other priorities include initiatives to enhance intelligence capabilities and a concentrated push to address issues relating to personnel. The latter will include recruitment, retention, training, education and remuneration. "It's the whole package," said Adm Tan Sri Anwar. "For example, during the ninth plan a lot of army camps will be refurbished."

These and other initiatives are outlined in a directional statement issued in September entitled the Versatile Malaysian Armed Forces of the 21st Century (VMAF21). "This involves the development of long-term force development plans, which include human resource development; replacement, upgrading and procurement of new equipment; and a new operations concept," the CDF explained. "The new operations concept will require the MAF to operate as a joint force [and] therefore requires integration and development of information technology vital to the realisation of network-centric warfare systems."

The VMAF21 appears to address, at least in part, issues left unresolved when Malaysia aborted a strategic review of its defence policy, which was initiated in 1998 and never finalised.

At the policy level, Malaysia is concurrently relaxing its traditional hesitation over multilateral military activity outside the FPDA framework. Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore launched co-ordinated naval patrols in the Strait of Malacca in mid-2004 to better deter piracy and terrorism. In August these countries, together with Thailand, expanded the programme with an agreement to start joint air patrols, known as Eyes in the Sky (EiS).
>From Kuala Lumpur's perspective, analysts say, this activity may be driven more by political objectives than security concerns. Pirate attacks in the Strait are statistically insignificant, with the International Maritime Bureau reporting eight attacks during the first half of 2005 compared with 20 during the same period in 2004, while there are more than 50,000 ship movements through the Strait annually. Malaysia's EiS initiative is mainly intended to stem any potential outside interference in security affairs, some suggest.

Policy shifts

Two other developments are, perhaps, more indicative of a policy shift. Next year Malaysia will host the first multilateral mine-sweeping and diving exercises under the US-led Western Pacific Naval Symposium. It has also expressed tentative support for the proposed creation of a mechanism under the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations to ensure a multilateral military approach to disaster relief operations.

Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, who heads the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre, argues that the key to force development under the Ninth Malaysia Plan lies in prioritising programmes. "There is a general slowdown in the economy and the new prime minister is focused on cutting the current account deficit," he said. "The major [force modernisation] thrust has been influenced by counter-terrorism requirements but has not changed. However, the MAF will need to further prioritise the development of its capabilities."
Adm Tan Sri Anwar highlights one new priority. "We will now expand the envelope toward area defence capabilities. It's all going to medium-range missiles," he said. Looking beyond the next five-year plan, he added: "After 2010 we envisage improving and enhancing our information warfare and electronic-warfare capabilities and at the same time having a fully developed network of command and control, communication, surveillance and intelligence systems. We intend to maximise technology for quicker reaction and response times to any contingency."

Emphasis on ground forces

Analysts generally hold that the Eighth Malaysia Plan had an emphasis on ground forces, with the army's original procurement wish-list worth MYR6.79 billion (USD1.80 billion). The ninth plan should see the army's expansion continue at a more settled rate.

New capabilities introduced under the current five-year programme centre on 48 PT-91M MBTs from Poland valued at MYR1.4 billion, this sum including 14 armoured recovery and engineering vehicles and 18 Avibras ASTROS II multiple rocket systems (MRS) from Brazil valued at MYR750 million. The MBTs are scheduled for delivery in 2007 but local observers are doubtful that more will be obtained despite Warsaw's hope to provide up to 100 additional platforms. Major enhancement of existing capabilities include the initial acquisition from Turkey of 211 Savunma Sistemleri AS armoured personnel carriers in 10 variants based on the ACV-300 model, with the inventory now thought to number about 300, and 22 Denel Ordnance 155 mm/45-cal G5 Mk 3 towed artillery systems from South Africa. In addition, the Army Air Corps has obtained 11 AgustaWestland A109 light observation helicopters from Italy.

This expansion of strength will now need to be assimilated. "They've got the heavy metal for a medium-weight heavy brigade but some question whether they have the doctrine," one source said. Another noted: "The army has pretty well all the capabilities it requires. The only major remaining hole lies in air defence." The MAF's ground-based air defence is currently confined to short-range systems. Together with anti-aircraft artillery these include the UK-made Starburst and Javelin, Anza Mk II from Pakistan, the Igla from Russia and the new MBDA Jernas system. The next five-year plan should include the introduction of a medium-range system, with China's KS-1/KS-1A currently favoured over the Russian-made 9K37 Buk-1. These are likely to be supplemented by additional short-range systems: probably China's FN-6, which would be produced locally, or either the Igla or new Igla-S from Russia. In the longer term, some analysts suggest, the MAF may seek to establish a joint structure to control the co-ordination of ground-based air defence.

Together with air defence, perhaps the army's only other high priority centres on bolstering command and control (C2). This should include new tactical communication equipment and further digitisation. Admiral Tan Sri Dato' Sri Mohd Anwar Bin Hj Mohd Nor, the chief of defence force, announced in October an initiative that should at least partially address the C2 requirement. There will be an allocation of MYR500 million under the Ninth Malaysia Plan for the purchase of tactical communications equipment to strengthen border posts along the Malaysian-Thai frontier, he said. Night-vision goggles may also be distributed more widely among these positions.

This focus on the Thai border is prompted by concerns over a low-level insurgency flaring up in Thailand's Muslim-dominated southern provinces that has cross-border implications. Earlier in 2005 the army moved to enhance its capability to deal with non-traditional threats through establishing in its Third Division a unit specialised in dealing with biological warfare threats; similar units are planned for the other three divisions.

The army is also looking at some expansion of the special forces regiment after enhancing its counter-terrorism capabilities, but equipment requirements will simply address update needs. Elsewhere, the army is expected to focus some attention on improving its public order support of the police. Otherwise, sources say, the Ninth Malaysia Plan may include provision for additional 105 mm howitzers and MRSs to further strengthen firepower, the former because the 105 mm Model 56 pack howitzers are nearing the end of their service life.

Submarine capability

The navy's centrepiece projects under the Eighth Malaysia Plan involved the introduction of a submarine capability and the launch of a major offshore patrol vessel (OPV) programme, but the latter has proven problematic.
Under the submarine programme, finalised in June 2002 and worth some EUR1.2 billion (USD1.4 billion), the navy will obtain two Scorpene-class boats delivery of which is now scheduled for 2009. This deal includes a four-year training package on a French Agosta-70, which may eventually be transferred as well.

Together with preparing a new facility at Sepanggar Bay in Sabah, the navy is exploring support requirements. This includes talks aimed at obtaining a submarine rescue capability on a commercial basis and a heightened interest in hydrographic skills, particularly in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami, which altered the seabed in many places.

The OPV programme, with a design based on the Blohm + Voss MEKO 100, involved an initial order for six platforms with expectations of 21 more in follow-up. The first two vessels were to be built in Germany and the remaining four at Malaysia's PSC Naval Dockyard in Lumut, but the shipyard has overspent funds without completing its work and lost political favour. The government announced on 28 September that it had assumed control of PSC, saying that the first OPV would be handed over in January, but additional funding is required to complete the programme. The OPVs have, meanwhile, been reclassified as corvettes and may be fitted with additional armament. However, local sources are in broad agreement that the programme will "most probably" end with these six platforms.

As for the Ninth Malaysia Plan, sources point to several major projects in preparation. These include: a requirement for two or three multirole support ships, capable of handling both troop transport and disaster relief operations; and two more frigates to supplement the two Lekiu-class ships constructed in the UK and delivered in 2000, with the UK again favoured to win the order. There are also talks under way with China involving the acquisition of two ships.

Shift in emphasis

Perhaps more significantly, the navy will shift its emphasis over the next five-year planning period. "The navy can now focus on warfighting capabilities, on honing their skills in warfighting, rather than mundane constabulary duties," said Adm Tan Sri Anwar.

This change results from much of the maritime enforcement mission devolving to the newly formed Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), which is expected to begin operations in the Strait of Malacca on 30 November. The MMEA will operate offshore to a distance of 50 n miles, with the first 12 n miles initially shared by the Marine Police, while the navy focuses on areas from 50 n miles to the Exclusive Economic Zone limit and beyond.

The MMEA will initially inherit 92 ships from various agencies - including about 15 navy patrol vessels, of which six or eight have so far been handed over. Beyond this, it has issued a request for proposals involving the wet lease of two fixed-wing maritime surveillance aircraft and has a stated requirement for two helicopters.

Among other consequences, the MMEA's advent may provide the navy with an argument for funding support to bolster its fleet of major surface combatants. In the short term this is indicated through its interest in additional frigates, in increasing the lethality of the OPVs/corvettes and in the multirole support ship programme. Beyond 2010, with the OPV/corvette programme reduced to six platforms from the 27 originally envisaged, this may bear additional fruit.

Air force assets

The Royal Malaysian Air Force has a growing fleet of advanced combat aircraft. These include: eight F/A-18D Hornets, 18 MiG-29N/NUB and 18 Su-30MKM aircraft together with the possible acquisition of 18 F/A-18E Super Hornets.
Thus, a logical requirement is to acquire an airborne early-warning capability, with up to four platforms proposed, but it is unclear whether this has emerged as a priority.

Dato' Sri Najib, the defence minister, hints that such a development is under active consideration. "We talk about electronics and network-centric warfare, about sensors. These are the things we are lacking," he said. "For example, airborne surveillance aircraft not limited to small targets like pirates and so forth but having the capability to detect any external threat."

The air force came out of the current five-year plan with 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKMs worth at least USD900 million to strengthen its air combat fleet, but the deal is proving somewhat problematic. The Sukhois were originally due for delivery in batches of six during 2006 and 2007. However, the first phase has slipped by at least six months from its original arrival date in January due to integration problems. Russia is providing little more than bare airframes to be fitted with Western systems while French company Thales is doing the integration work, but the manufacturer has so far been less than fully co-ºoperative.

Malaysia is, in any case, looking to expand its missile inventory to mid-range coverage. The MBDA Missile Systems MICA is among candidates to equip the Su-30MKM. Meanwhile, talks have resumed aimed at providing Kuala Lumpur with the Raytheon Missile Systems AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) to equip its eight Boeing F/A-18D Hornets after an earlier deal was aborted when Malaysia rejected conditions requiring their storage in the US.

Some sources believe that the Ninth Malaysia Plan includes provision for the first phase of another acquisition of multirole fighters, with more than MYR4 billion allocated. This competition would involve 18 platforms, with the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet thought to be favoured over additional Su-30MKMs. The next five-year plan is also expected to see the air force get some strategic transports, maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and jet trainers.

The strategic transport requirement should be met through four to six Airbus A400Ms, with local sources convinced that a contract is imminent for first delivery around 2013. The A400M may also be used as an aerial refueller. The trainer requirement resulted from delays in finalising the acquisition of 17 ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force MB-339CB jet trainers, which have since been sold elsewhere. Additional Hawks from BAE Systems of the UK could provide a solution, but the new KAI T-50 Golden Eagle from South Korea may be among the alternatives on offer.

Aerial reconnaissance

Aerial maritime patrol is conducted by the air force on behalf of the navy and senior Malaysian defence officials acknowledge that the current capability is insufficient. This capability includes four Beechcraft B200Ts acquired in 1994 and at least one C-130H-MP, although the latter is costly to fly in this role and cannot operate effectively at night.

The air force will continue with this mission despite some MPA assets being obtained by the nascent Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, but it is unclear how many new platforms are required. The air force also operates the CTRM Eagle optionally piloted aerial reconnaissance vehicle, with at least three platforms mainly flying out of Labuan in Sabah. Consideration is now being given to long-endurance surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles.
Among rotary-wing aircraft, the most obvious requirement centres on replacing up to 30 Sikorsky S-61A Nuri multipurpose helicopters used for tactical transport and last upgraded in the early 1990s. One source is adamant that the ninth plan includes no such provision but, he says: "They are starting to look around."

Defence industry

"The defence industry received much-needed impetus with the nation's procurement of capital equipment over the past decade through implementation of the offset policy, enabling the country to leverage on the procurement process to acquire technology.
The involvement and participation of the defence sector becomes more significant with the implementation of outsourcing," Malaysian Armed Forces chief Admiral Tan Sri Dato' Sri Mohd Anwar Bin Hj Mohd Nor told JDW.
"The role of the defence industry in maintaining, repairing, overhauling, upgrading and modernising military equipment has become increasingly significant."
However, his view is tempered with realism. "Nevertheless, much remains to be done in enhancing indigenous defence capability. Various challenges stand in the way of accelerating the pace of growth for the defence sector," he said. "These include the lack of critical mass, high capital investment, lack of research and development, rigid specifications, lack of competencies, absence of uniformity and lack of promotional and marketing activities."
The need for military self-reliance has been a cornerstone of Malaysian defence policy since the 1990s. Underlying this aim is a formal offset requirement tied to procurements, with foreign suppliers obliged to involve local companies in the transfer of technology. By and large, this has proven a success for foreign suppliers and local partners alike.
Malaysia's SME Aerospace illustrates this trend, having gone on to win additional work unrelated to the offset packages, which sparked its beginnings. Other companies, like Composite Technology Research Malaysia with its tactical unmanned aerial vehicle and Deftech with its Handalan military truck line, produce their own products.
However, not all defence ventures have been successful. Most notably, the government earlier this year moved to assume control of PSC Naval Dockyard when it ran into difficulties on the New Generation Patrol Vessel programme.
Although Kuala Lumpur has encouraged local companies to venture into the defence field, it offered little guidance or co-ordination until the launch of the Malaysian Defence Industry Council (MDIC) in July 1999, which brings together senior government officials and the heads of defence companies under the defence minister's chairmanship. This has so far proved only moderately successful, in part because competing companies among its membership sometimes fail to agree a common co-operative approach.
The Malaysian government also formulated the Defence Industry Blueprint, which lays down the strategy and policies for development of the defence sector in the six fields of MDIC focus. These comprise aerospace, maritime, weaponry, automotive, information communications technology and common-user equipment. Each field is addressed through five areas of emphasis covering human resources and competencies; technology development; industrial development; self-sufficiency; and international marketing.
Further, the government sought to provide a long-term guarantee of work through its 2004 Guidelines for Long-Term 5 + 5 (year) contracts and organised a series of seminars on financing. The latter proved necessary because companies are expected to rely on their own financial resources.
However, the self-financing requirement has effectively stifled local research and development (R&D) activity - particularly as the Ministry of Defence does not formulate any long-term indigenous development and procurement programme with a specific funding allocation. This discourages R&D investment, although some manufacturers have taken the risk regardless.
Deftech, for example, is working on an indigenous armoured vehicle to eventually replace the army's ageing Condor armoured personnel carrier (APC) and Sibmas fire- support vehicle even though there is no stated programme in place. This is despite Deftech's poor experience in gaining follow-up work after establishing an assembly plant in Pekan for the ACV-300 Adnan APC and completing deliveries.
Another problem centres on exports. The Malaysian government encourages companies to seek international orders but it lacks the tangible support provided by organisations such as the French government's Délégation Générale pour l'Armament. Instead, Kuala Lumpur simply provides general guidelines and relies more on private sector initiatives.
Malaysia's defence sector may nevertheless get a boost from an initiative promoted by Adm Tan Sri Anwar: a major review of defence logistics that should be completed and largely implemented during the Ninth Malaysia Plan. "There will be [more] outsourcing, privatisation and use of contractors," he said.

Incedrius SG

Some people really ARE pompous aren't they? Rolling Eyes Here's a hush-hush secret for you all... Not everything revolves around you. And not everything revolves around Singapore. I know, sounds really radical doesn't it. Sit down, think it over, and you may realizae that Malaysia's defence spending is waaaay lower than Singapore's. They are no threat to us and they KNOW it themselves.

Malaysia sees has more problems with the North than the South. Anyone who has been on exercise with them, and talked to their troops would know that they see a bigger threat coming from the North than from the South. Not neccessarily Thailand, but through Thailand. It's big, it's red and it's communist. And incidentally, it's also filled with Chinese, so much of the invective against Chinese is actually directed not towards Singapore but towards China.

There's also small-scale COIN ops which they're gearing up for, and actively engaging in, in the North. With Thaksin being such a jerk, and trampling all over the Southern Muslims, until they have had to flee to Malaysia, do you really expect any less of them?

Remember this is the Thaksin who was angered that Malaysia called the people who fled "refugees" rather than "fugitives". Who called the military torturing to death prisoners as "bodies being weakened by fasting furing Ramadhan" thus absolving his troops. Who keeps on making such gaffes in public, so he claimed the "stars were not corrrectly in alignment" and thus could not speak to the media anymore.

Seriously, you people should grow up and look beyond this little island. Being provincial may make you extra patriotic... but it doesn't make you look intelligent.

LazerLordz SG

and many have laughed when I say that there is a higher chance of Malaysia and Singapore fighting alongside each other in any future crisis.Our "squabble" is indeed nothing in the grand scheme of things, especially in the broader Asia-Pacific region.

Selfsame, our weapon systems are not purchased to defend a border war.Everyone, just take some time and look at the capabilities of what we are buying, and you will see that we are also not obsessed with a pissing contest between us and them.

The geo-political arena is up North, and we all SEA states have to stand together and be vigiliant.

Moonstriker SG

streams the SEA Games Team Singapore Song….

Shotgun SG

Hrm... no one ever said that we were building up to fight each other.

I would rather fighting along side our neighbours against a common threat than to fight against them over petty differences.

LazerLordz SG

yep, no one ever said openly, but if you've gone through NS, the common misconception running around is so rampant.

Only once, I had someone tell me, there is more to SAF than that childish pissing contest.

sgdiehard SG

anyone who live with the cold war mentality. The red has changed, malaysia and singapore together have nothing worthwhile for any country to want to occupy, except probably for a share of the control of the straits of malacca with indonesia and thailand.

I don't think Malaysia has anything that any other countries would need but they sure pissed off all their neighbours, near and far.

The more inminent threat today come from terrorists, motivated by religious fanatics and minority separatis. Call Thaksin a jerk, but terrorists bombings are there in his country and it is his job to handle. Three millions southern muslims causing problem in a 56 million population country are considered "persecuted" and those who fled are recognised as "refugees" while 8 millions of chinese and indians in malaysia with 21 millions ppl are treated outright as second class citizens in malaysia, I can understand why Thaksin is pissed. Wink

China is also pissed off with the way malaysia police treated the chinese tourists in malaysia.

anybody is surprised that malaysian's defence spending is waaaaaay below that of singapore?? nobody but fools, they know it and we know it, but why the current big push? it is nothing more than just catching up with their plan that were 10 years late. We knew there were big plans to modernise their armed forces way back in 1995, they were the first to evaluate attack helicopter, and if I am not wrong, they actually announced plan to buy the South African attack helicopters, but the financial crisis stalled it all.

I doubt china can be or need to be a threat to malaysia, but malaysians should not expect us to fight with them for the sake of the muslims in southern thailand, and if situation developed such that thailand opend its territories and allows china to take malaysia, I will probably join the thai, the malaysian chinese, indians in welcoming the changes in malaysia. Evil or Very Mad

Asean should unite and develop and reduce the income gaps among its ppl, it is wise to work as a group with the big majors in the region to develop friendly relationships with everybody. If Malaysia can't get along with its neighbours, I have no doubt they would have problem with other nations, china included. Grow up!!! Mr. Green

Incedrius SG

Whew Im glad a whiff of sanity has returned to this thread... Wink

Shotgun SG

The misconception is there cos no one ever taught those idiot 2LTs and 3SGs the real reason.

Just cos we have palm oil plantations, they tell us we are gonna fight against neighbour. It never occured to most of them that we would be fighting ALONG side them.

It never occured to them that during the vietnam war, there were ppl around seriously concerned that the communism would spread throughout south east asia. It never occured to them that it might have spread to Singapore, if not covertly, overtly through a NVA force that would have overwhelmed our Peninsular.

Please, teach our new recruits some history before they also start thinking that we are trained to fight our neighbours.

sgdiehard SG

at least you learn something from NS. recall ex malindo, read the history of SAF, and if you look what go on around us and think deeper (ever attended national education course?), you will know that there IS NO misconception. SAF don't take 2 years of our life to give us misconception, they only fail because some cannot see further than their foot refuse to learn.

Lee HL ever said, "we dont' identify our enemy, the enemy identifies themselves." We have no say in what malaysia want to do and how much they want to spend on military, we sure hope we all don't have to use them. Thats all we need to now.