Question on 'secret' issue rejected, MP sees red - Malaysiakini

May 2, 08 6:42pm

What is the maintenance cost for each Royal Malaysian Air Force fighter plane, namely the Mig-29N, Sukhoi Su-80MKM, Hawk 200 and F/A-18D Hornet and average aviation duration flown for each year since 2004?

This question submitted to Parliament for a written reply by Bukit Bendera parliamentarian Liew Chin Tong will not be answered because the matter is considered an ‘official secret’.

In a statement today, Liew said he was informed by Dewan Rakyat secretary Roosme Hamzah that his question had been rejected on official secret grounds under Standing Order 23 (1) (f).

The order expressly states that ‘a question shall not seek information about any matter which is of its nature secret’.

A dissatisfied Liew said: "Such a classification is difficult to justify because all I am asking is with regards to the maintenance cost of the four planes and its average flying duration in a year."

Must be transparent

The elections advisor to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng explained that he understood how some matters pertaining to national defence are considered official secrets.

However, parliamentary questions relating to finance and expenditure should fall outside the purview of secrecy.

"This makes the Defence Ministry not appear to be transparent in executing tasks relating to goods and services under its departments.

"It is important to stress that it is necessary for members of parliament to scrutinise the expenditure of this ministry," he said.

Liew justified that information on the cost of maintenance and average aviation duration can be used to do international comparisons.

"I’m not asking for something that is really sensitive or secretive like their defence strategies or secrets.

"My question relates to aircraft maintenance cost which is paid for by taxpayers. So as a MP and on behalf of all Malaysians, I have a right to know," he told Malaysiakini.

The purchase of aircrafts by the ministry runs into millions of ringgit as seen in 2003 when Malaysia signed a contract with Russia in 2003 for a total of 18 Su-30MKM fighters under a RM900-million contract.