Not really...u still need to look down the bore..

has gone up to 11 dead

Explosion hits police office in Indonesia's Surabaya



SURABAYA, Indonesia: Police on Monday (May 14) confirmed another explosion hit a police station in Surabaya at 8.50 am (9.50 am Singapore time), a day after a wave of blasts occurred near three churches in the city.

In an update on investigations, authorities said two militants on a motorcycle blew themselves up at the facility.

Earlier, East Java police spokesman Frans Barung Mangera said a "vehicle-bomb" was used and that police were investigating whether it was a two-wheeler or four-wheeler.



The full extent of casualties was unclear, he said during a briefing.​​​​​​​

"There has been an explosion, we don’t know exactly what happened," he said.

The latest blast comes just a day after suicide bombers attacked three churches, killing at least 13 people and wounding about 40.


Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/e...police-10230848

cab was damaged but the system can still function

Haspel defends torture of terrorism suspects

Ms Gina Haspel told the US Senate hearing on Wednesday that she and other CIA spies were working within the law.



PUBLISHEDMAY 11, 2018, 5:00 AM SGT

WASHINGTON • US President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, Ms Gina Haspel, has defended the agency's torture of terrorism suspects, as her confirmation hearing served as another reckoning of the extraordinary measures the government employed in the frantic hunt for the Sept 11 conspirators.

Ms Haspel, a 33-year CIA veteran who oversaw a secret prison in Thailand in 2002 while an Al-Qaeda suspect was waterboarded there, said at the hearing on Wednesday that she and other spies were working within the law. Though the CIA should never resume that type of work, she said, its officers should also not be judged for doing it.

"I'm not going to sit here with the benefit of hindsight and judge the very good people who made hard decisions, who were running the agency in very extraordinary circumstances," she told the Senate Intelligence Committee.



She vowed that she would not start another interrogation programme like the one developed under President George W. Bush.

Ms Haspel, 61, rejected Democrats' suggestions that she declassify more information about her background, saying that the director should be subject to agency guidelines on keeping its secrets. She pushed back on charges that the interrogation programme was immoral, and fought to describe what she said were the CIA's successes in capturing the United States' most-wanted men.

Democratic senators peppered her with confrontational questions from the outset. They repeatedly asked for details of her role in some of the most notorious episodes of the interrogation programme, including her conveyance of an order from her superior to destroy videotapes documenting 92 of the interrogations.

In her first public account of the destruction, which occurred in 2005, she said there were concerns about the "security risk" the tapes posed - that the lives of undercover officers might be put at risk if they were to become public.

Rumours have long swirled that Ms Haspel appeared in the tapes. Her answer was definitive: "I did not appear on the tapes."

Her performance appeared to persuade at least two key senators - Senator Susan Collins, a moderate Republican, and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin.

At least one influential Republican, Senator John McCain, was unconvinced by Ms Haspel's assurances and dealt a symbolic blow to her nomination. Mr McCain, a former prisoner of war and the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said that "her refusal to acknowledge torture's immorality is disqualifying," and urged his colleagues to vote against her.

NYTIMES

Former RSAF engineer admits to cheating Government over contracts worth more than $1.8 million



SINGAPORE - A former Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) engineer has admitted in a district court that he cheated the Government over contracts worth more than $1.8 million.

On Wednesday (May 9), Rajkumar Padmanathan, 49, pleaded guilty to 19 cheating charges involving more than $150,000. The court heard that 198 other cheating charges involving the remaining amount will be taken into consideration during sentencing.

Besides this, Rajkumar and another former RSAF engineer, Sung Way Xiong, 29, each pleaded guilty to one corruption charge and eight offences involving the Official Secrets Act.

Sung was given 10 weeks' jail on Wednesday. Rajkumar, who has not been sentenced, will be back in court on June 27.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Vincent Ong said that Rajkumar joined RSAF as an air force engineer in 1989 and resigned on July 31, 2012.

His scope of work mainly related to the F-16 aircraft, and required him to raise requests for repair and maintenance works. Independent contractors would tender for these jobs.

DPP Ong told District Judge Edgar Foo: "After receiving the quotations from the contractors, Rajkumar would then indicate which contractors he recommended.

"Rajkumar's superiors would authenticate the request and generally relied on Rajkumar's recommendations in respect of the contractors, as well as the price quoted, to determine if they should be awarded the works."

The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) would pay the contractors upon completion of their tasks.

While still working as an RSAF engineer, Rajkumar came up with a scheme to cheat his employer and obtain profits for himself.

On May 19, 2010, he incorporated a firm known as Goodwill Aviations System (GAS), with his wife as the sole director and shareholder. However, Rajkumar was the true owner and controlled the company's business, said DPP Ong.

Without informing his superiors about his links to GAS, he would make recommendations for jobs to be awarded to the firm.

DPP Ong added: "As a result of his recommendation and deception, quotations by GAS would be approved by his superiors and the works would then be awarded to GAS."

Between October 2010 and June 2012, GAS was awarded 99 jobs with a total value of $868,994.

Besides GAS, Rajkumar was also involved in the business of three other companies which tendered for works required by RSAF. They are Eagle Flight Aviation Services, Duratech Engineering and Global Trade Well.

Through a similar method, these three firms were each awarded jobs of between $29,090 and $632,528.

Rajkumar met Sung in 2014 after leaving RSAF. The younger man was an RSAF engineer at that time and had access to a platform known as the Enterprise System, which contained confidential data such as pricing information for various items.

The court heard that the pricing information is classified as "commercial-in-confidence". Contractors with access to the system would gain a competitive advantage over the others.

When Rajkumar learnt that Sung had access to the system, he told the younger man that he was involved in the aviation business and asked Sung to provide him with the prices of items in the RSAF inventory.

DPP Ong said: "He also told Sung that if his business went smoothly, he could employ Sung when the latter left the RSAF and give him a good pay package and that if the business was good, he would share some of his profits with Sung."

Sung corruptly agreed to be part of the plan and gave Rajkumar confidential pricing information which he obtained from the Enterprise System, said the DPP.

In a statement, Mindef said on Wednesday that it has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption.

Together with the Singapore Armed Forces, Mindef said, it has a "robust procurement process which incorporates a comprehensive set of internal and external audits, checks and balances to guard against corruption and procurement malpractices".

"During one of our periodic internal audits in July 2015, we detected irregularities and immediately surfaced this case to the CPIB (Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau) for investigation.

"All servicemen, regardless of their position or seniority, are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and conduct."

I rather doubt that

Silap haribulan MiG-29 fly balik dengan upgrade SMT. Kena ingat zaman sapa buat procurement MiG-29 tu. ATSC yang handle MiG-29 / Su-30MKM actually kroni Madey gak. Jangan rule out juga tambahan Su-30MKM 6-8 bijik jika Gomen buat austerity measure utk MRCA procurement plan.

hmm.. still going russian? isnt it better go get some 2nd hand western planes?

You mean Mahathir's era during the massive PERISTA procurement in 1980s? The second hand A4-PTM Skyhawks sourced from the storage in Arizona desert? The ones that kept falling down from the sky and earned the name Flying Coffins? The ones that in service for less than a decade and got replace with Hawk 100 - 200 series?

Although if RMAF got 2nd hand F-18Cs & Ds from ex Kuwaiti planes quite OK la.

Hahah..tau tak pa..depa ingat che det nak ikut kehendak TUDM? Kalau dapat beli baru tu lebih2 lagi western aircraft memang kira menang jackpot la..

maybe mat sabu can get good deal from lelong f/a-18 from somewhere

If there's no mag, the chamber is clear and the bolt locked back there's no real issue.

I eyeball the bore to ensure it's clean and to check for pitting. You can't check from the chamber end unless the barrel comes out of the receiver.

Another pre-delivery photo of the Indonesian Army Aviation (Penerbad) AH-64E Apache Guardian with the Longbow Radar. Credit to Skadron 11/Serbu.

u mean mig-29nm

Exercise KOCHA SINGA 2018.







This post has been edited by azriel: May 15 2018, 03:15 PM

ini projek mahal gila
baik beli baru

What was the per unit cost of upgrading?

That proposal was years ago. By now it seems that the Migs really aren't flight worthy anymore, and a few have been parted out?

once bitten doesnt mean it will forever be a dud... who to blame for poor due diligence?

agreed... from kuwaitis or even aussies but too late.. haih

Malaysian SCDF NSF dies after ORD celebrations go wrong; two SCDF regular personnel arrested



SINGAPORE - A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) full-time national serviceman (NSF) died after he was found unconscious inside a pump well at Tuas View Fire Station on Sunday (May 13).

In a statement on Monday, SCDF said that Corporal Kok Yuen Chin, 22, was found there at about 9.20pm. He had been celebrating his impending operationally ready date (ORD) with his squad mates.

One of the activities involved getting him into the pump well, which is a reservoir of water used by fire station personnel for training and testing of pumps for fire engines, it said.



The pump well is about 12m deep with a diameter of 1.8m. At the time of the incident, the water level in the well was about 1m from the opening.

However, Cpl Kok, who is a Malaysian national and Singapore permanent resident, did not resurface. A number of SCDF personnel jumped into the pump well to find him, but were unsuccessful. He was eventually pulled out of the well after the water was drained.

Two SCDF regular personnel were arrested on Monday after preliminary investigations. The duo, holding the rank of Warrant Officer 1 and Staff Sergeant, were Cpl Kok's colleagues who worked in the same shift duty at the station.

Speaking briefly to the media on Monday afternoon, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said that from the facts so far, it was clear the conduct of some involved in the incident was "quite wrong".

"It's in clear violation of SCDF's rules. It should not have happened. Unacceptable. Period."

He added: "We will get to the bottom of it."Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation was administered to Cpl Kok followed by the use of an automated external defibrillator. He was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Cpl Kok, who had drowned, was supposed to have attained ORD status on Wednesday. This is the first death as a result of ragging in the SCDF.

SCDF said the police are conducting investigations into what had happened, including how Cpl Kok fell into the pump well, and whether anyone is criminally responsible.

"SCDF is saddened by his death and extends our deepest condolences to his family," it said. "We are providing all necessary assistance to the family during this difficult time."

Investigations also showed the incident arose as a result of activities that SCDF has prohibited.

Severe punishments and deterrent action have been meted out in the past to those who engaged in unauthorised activities, SCDF said. It will be conducting briefings at all fire stations and bases, as well as checks on whether there were any such activities in the recent past.

A Board of Inquiry (BOI) will also be convened to look into the case, said the SCDF, with full details to be made public in due course.

Under the Civil Defence Act , the Home Affairs Minister is empowered to convene a BOI to look into any matter connected with the government, discipline, administration or functions of the SCDF, or those affecting any person subject to the Act. Members of the board might not necessarily be from SCDF.

Depending on the severity of the incident and culpability of those involved, punishments for regular officers can range from warning letters to demotion or dismissal from service. Officers will also be prosecuted if there is criminal wrongdoing.

NSFs and operationally ready NS men face penalties ranging from fines to custodial sentences in the SCDF Detention Barrack.

As investigations are ongoing, Mr Shanmugam said it was not appropriate to comment on the details on the case. However, previous cases of inappropriate conduct within the SCDF have surfaced before, and action has been taken.



He has also asked the force to conduct an audit following the case.

"When conduct which is not sanctioned takes place - celebration or otherwise - action has been taken. But then, after a while, people forget and then break the rules again."

Mr Shanmugam and SCDF's Deputy Commissioner Chong Hoi Hung had also met Cpl Kok's family members earlier on Monday.

Said Mr Shanmugam: "I think it's a tragic loss of life. Young man full of potential... At this stage, of course, SCDF is doing everything it can to assist the family.

"Nothing's going to bring the young man back to life so it's a tragic loss. Investigations are continuing."

Said DC Chong: "As what we have mentioned earlier, SCDF does not condone such unauthorised activities and we have been telling our commanders to brief the men properly to ensure that they do not undertake such unauthorised activities."

In an interview with The New Paper on Monday night, Cpl Kok's aunt said that her could not swim, and had told his siblings in Melaka he was afraid of being thrown into the pump well when he returned to Singapore.

"Everyone in the camp knew that he was afraid of water, and could not swim," said Madam Kok Chun Fa. "The whole family was worried, but we thought there would be someone supervising the situation."

She said that Cpl Kok, who had returned to Malaysia to vote in the general election last week, even bought snacks to take back to Singapore for his colleagues to try to persuade them not to rag him.



The incident comes two weeks after the death of another NSF, Corporal First Class Dave Lee Han Xuan. The 19-year-old died on April 30, after being hospitalised in Changi General Hospital for heatstroke.

A Committee of Inquiry has been formed to look into the circumstances that led to his death, and a coroner's inquiry may also be held, depending on the outcome of the police investigation for the case.