RMN ready to sue those politicising Scorpene issue

LUMUT, April 29 — The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) will not hesitate to take legal action against those continuing to make slanderous remarks and politicising the issue of the Scorpene submarines particularly during the election campaign.

RMN chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said he had received information that several opposition candidates were continuing to dispute the purchase of the vessels besides slandering that the submarines were not functioning.

“The opposition parties are relentlessly making the submarines the subject of their campaign... these are all slanderous... I have heard a lot of stories and I’m gathering evidence... I challenge them to make the statements in writing if they dare.

“Then be prepared to face defamation suits... we have been too soft with them earlier,” he told reporters after a gathering with RMN personnel at the Lumut RMN Base here today.

He said both vessels, namely KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Abdul Razak, were in the best condition and had in fact dived to the maximum depth and fired underwater missiles which had hit the target 55km away.

“I’ve sailed (in the submarine) three times... they went well and, in fact, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng himself had sailed (in the vessel) and he had acknowledged the capability of the submarine and was proud of its capability,” he said.

He said other countries had recognised and respected the capabilities and efficiency of the submarine crew in operating the two submarines.

Meanwhile, on the claim that First Admiral (Rtd) Datuk Abdul Imran Abd Hamid was prevented from campaigning at the Lumut base, he said the RMN did not allow ceramahs or political campaigns by any political party in the area.

“Former Prime Minister Tun (Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) was allowed in because he did not talk about politics, he came here to talk about solidarity while Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi came here in his capacity as the defence minister.

“But for Abdul Imran, I’m sure he will talk on politics interspersed with slander and will anger the personnel here... we don’t want any agenda to be brought in that will divide the people,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the number of military voters and their spouses registered in Lumut was 14,231 and 12,766 of them would be voting early at the polling centre at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pangkalan TUDM Lumut.

He said the RMN had also intensified enforcement in Sabah waters with the collaboration of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Royal Malaysia Police throughout the election period so that the security of the people and country was safeguarded. — Bernama