DEWAN RAKYAT: It's cost-effective, ministry explains

THE Defence Ministry came under fire yesterday for buying second-hand defence equipment.

"It is strange. Why do we always settle for second hand equipment?" asked Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin as several MPs nodded in agreement during the question-and-answer session.

However, Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was not amused and told him to sit down and not interrupt the Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop who was explaining the rationale for buying second-hand equipment.

Abu Seman was replying to a question by Ahmad Maslan (Pontian-BN) who asked why the ministry often bought second-hand equipment such as the KD Sri Inderapura from the US Navy and whether the ship was still in good condition.

"Such purchases cost less. Sri Inderapura is still in good working condition," Abu Seman said.
On another matter, the government said it does not plan to publish a White Paper on defence.

The government had never spelt out any of its policies in a White Paper, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in a written reply to Liew Chin Tong (Bukit Bendera-DAP).

The White Papers released by the government so far have been on the Militant Communist Threat (1966), Birth of Communist Threat (1971), Communists in Sarawak (1972), Memali Incident (1986), Bumiputera Malaysia Finance-Hong Kong (1986), Ops Lalang (1987) and Malaysia's Economic Status (1996).

Apart from that, Abdullah said the Defence Ministry was releasing the public edition of National Defence Policy which featured, among other things, defence relations, expenditure, industry, science and technology and security issues. -- Bernama

Nik Aziz Described 'Pakatan Rakyat' As An 'infant'

KOTA BAHARU, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat described the 'Pakatan Rakyat' as immature and still in its infancy in facing varous conflicts and differences of opinions between Pas, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP.

Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan Menteri Besar, said there were bound to be differences in opinion between the three partners due to the young age of the coalition.

However, he said it was not proper for those outside the coalition to place excessive pressure on the coalition for the differences in opinion and problems within the respective parties in the Pakatan Rakyat.

"The Pakatan Rakyat was newly formed and it's like a new-born baby. We can't place a burden on the baby," he told reporters here Wednesday.

Nik Aziz said this when asked to comment on the cooperation policy of the Pakatan Rakyat following the internal crisis between the three parties in Selangor that led to the dismissal of Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Abdul Samad as Pas Deputy Commissioner II.

The Agenda Daily website today reported the dismissal by Selangor Pas Commissioner Datuk Dr Hassan Mohamed Ali because "Khalid is seen as frequently defending the actions of Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and would disagree on any protest made by Selangor Pas against the actions of the Selangor Menteri Besar".

However, Nik Abdul Aziz refused to comment on the action taken by Dr Hassan in dropping Khalid.

-- BERNAMA