Media statement by Dr. Hiew King Cheu in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday, 2^nd April 2011:

2 Submarines spending RM50 million of tax-payers' money per year

A yearly total of RM 50 million is used to maintain the two submarines KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak to ensure a full operational under extreme condition and for the safety of its crews of the submarines. This was disclosed by the Minister of Defence Dr. Abdul Latiff in answering a question raised by the MP for Batu Tian Chua in Parliament on Wednesday.

The Minister said the Scorpene submarine maintenance cost over a six year period will be about RM25 million each. Each submarine has 2 million parts and is equivalent to 14 Boeing 747s.

He said the ministry will organize a tour of the submarine at ports in the country to promote them to the public.

He also said that, under the contract, it is guaranteed that the submarines can be used at any given time to meet the needs of the navy, and failing which a penalty can be imposed on the company.

The RM 50 million spending on the maintenance annually is extravagant and exceptionally high. If for a period of six years, it will be a staggering figure of RM 300 million. The question is also raised that do we in Malaysia really need the submarine to protect our waters. We spent so many billion ringgits to purchase the two submarines and store million spare part components to ensure a smooth running of the submarine, is it justified?

Many people had queried the billions of Ringgits spent to have two submarines in Malaysia whether it is worth it. Just consider if the money was spent to acquire some tactical war planes, will it be more reasonable and effective in handling offensive crisis?

The Minister also mentioned that the two submarines will make a nationwide tour to all ports in Malaysia for the public to view and to promote the subs. This is actually going too far, because these tactical subs are not toys and not for pleasure rides. The cost and expenditures involved is definitely very high and the tax payer's money will be wasted. The procurement of spares parts up to two millions items also a figure that we cannot believe and understand, are these subs so fragile and easily broken down, so that we have to store such a huge stock of spare parts and component which is literally for every part of the sub.

The money spent on the purchase and maintenance of the subs is enough for the poor people in Malaysia to be given free housing and for the eradication of poverty many times over. We just don't see any real justification and logic behind of the huge spending.

* Dr Hiew King Cheu, MP for Kota Kinabalu