Malaysia’s security reinforced in 2016 Budget

KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the nation's security, the army's preparedness and welfare of security personnel have not been compromised in the 2016 Budget. “I assure that issues that are close to my heart especially housing, the National Service (NS) training programme and assets (acquisition) that we have committed to under the 10th Malaysia Plan have not been affected. "This is despite the fact that our economy is facing challenges and had experienced impacts due to the (current) global environment. “For the ministry, I wish to assure that our core business... our main focus will not be affected." Allocations for the Defence Ministry included 2,000 affordable housing units to be built by the Armed Forces Fund Board; RM360million for the NS training programme, RM160 million for 4,000 Armed Forces quarters; as well as RM523 million for the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM).

23 OCTOBER 2015 @ 9:27 PM


Defence ministry focuses on four major aspects of 2016 budget management

KUALA LUMPUR: The RM17.304 billion allocation for the Defence Ministry through the 2016 Budget will focus on aspects of welfare, safety, preparedness and training programme transformation. Its minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the substantial allocation was proof that the government was always concerned about national security and defence despite facing global economic slowdown. “(Budget 2016) highlights the government’s appreciation to officers and personnel of the Malaysia Armed Forces and their families for the service, sweat, sacrifice and professionalism that they contributed to the country,” he said in a statement here today. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, when tabling the 2016 Budget on Friday, announced an allocation of RM17.304 billion to be provided to the ministry, involving RM13.457 billion for management and RM3.847 billion for development. He said for the first aspect (welfare), the ministry planned to build over 4,000 units of Armed Forces Family Homes (RKAT) next year besides RKAT maintenance projects and 2,000 affordable houses by the Armed Forced Fund Board (LTAT) for eligible armed forces personnel and veterans. Under the welfare aspect, school bus services would be provided nationwide to replace the military trucks to bring their children to school, empowerment schemes to help military veterans and assistance in schooling. Under the second aspect, among others, focus will be given to the operation of Tun Azizan naval base and Tun Sharifah Rodziah naval base that had been operating since last May, refitting projects, Scorpene submarine, placement of 12 AV8 GEMPITA armour vehicles in Kukusan Camp, Tawau and upgrading of the Labuan air base and Lahad Datu, Sabah. The third aspect entails strengthening the armed forces’ preparedness, among others, the acquisition of new assets including six littoral combatant ships, Very Short Range Air Defence weapon system, armor vehicles, Airbus A-400M and the latest technology. An allocation of RM360 million for the fourth aspect will be for implementing the transformation of the national service training (PLKN) programme next year, involving new curriculum. “All the allocation received will be spent with prudence, integrity and transparency,” he added. -- Bernama

25 OCTOBER 2015 @ 8:53 PM

2016 Budget, Defence and National Security

Marhalim Abas October 23, 2015 

SHAH ALAM: IN my preview of the 2016 budget, I predicted that the Armed Forces will get a very big hit. However, it proved to be a softer blow instead as the allocation for next year was only reduced by some RM400 million.

For 2016, the government has allocated RM17.3 billion for the Armed Forces compared to RM17.7 billion, the amount actually spent this year. The Operating Expenditure (OE) for 2016 is RM13.4 billion, a reduction of some RM700 million from 2015 (RM14.1 billion). The Development Expenditure (DE) is RM3.847 billion, an increase of RM229 million compared to last year allocation of RM3.618 billion.

RMAF A400M M54-01 landing at Subang airport after performing a flypast on Merdeka Day

However I was not wrong about the assets to be procured for the year. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in his budget speech presentation stated that among the items to be procured are “the Littoral Combat Ship, A400M, armoured personnel carriers and the VSHORAD system.

One of the first production model Gempita, fitted with the 25mm Bushmaster turret.

The APCs are obviously the Gempita and the AV4 while the VSHORAD is of course the Thales Starstreak system signed earlier this year.

Thales ForceShield. Thales.

Najib said the Armed Forces will also get the latest unmanned airborne system for ISR duties. Industry sources had told Malaysian Defence that the UAS being looked were either more Scaneagles (already operating in ESSCOM) or a new medium range UAV to be locally made or assembled. Apart from this some RM523 million will be allocated to build a new camp for the Army at Felda Sahabat, in Lahad Datu.

Deftech AV4 for PDRM. The version for PDRM is shorter than the Army ones.

Najib said the government will also allocate RM864 million to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for the procurement of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) and patrol boats. This latest allocation will be a boon for MMEA which had long been hobbled by operating among the oldest patrol vessels in the region.

Whether the OPV will be the same one as shown during LIMA 15 is beyond me at the moment.

A model of the Amazon OPV class at the Radimax booth

For internal security and public safety, some RM13.1 billion has been allocated. Among others 500 patrol cars and 500 motorcycles worth RM35 million will be procured. In the meantime, ESSCOM will be allocated some RM26 million for procurement in 2016.

Take note that the overall allocation for the security sector for 2016 is RM31.2 billion. The OE allocation is RM26.9 billion (RM13.457 billion for defence and RM13.447 billion for internal security). The DE expenditure is RM5.196 billion (RM4.295 billion for defence and RM901 million for internal security). The higher figure for defence DE is not explained though it may well include the allocation for MMEA, ESSCOM and MKN which come under the Prime Minister’s Department.

The overall 2016 budget calls for an allocation of RM267.224 billion.

— Malaysian Defence