Mindef defends flying Mat Sabu on military plane

SHAH ALAM: The Ministry of Defence has defended its decision to fly its minister Mohamad Sabu to Penang on a military airplane last Saturday, saying it was for an official programme under the ministry.
Air Force chief Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang (pix) said he had personally invited Mohamad for the breaking of fast event as well as to meet and greet the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel at the Butterworth Air Base.
"This ceremony is an annual RMAF official programme and is also served as the first meeting between RMAF staff and the Defence Minister.
"This breaking of fast event will also similarly be held by the Army and Navy in the near future," he told reporters in an interview in conjunction with the RMAF Day, here, today.
Affendi said the use of the A400M aircraft was also to serve to complete the flying hours of the RMAF pilot who flew it, as all pilots needed to complete their hours to ensure a high level of competency.
"The use of a military plane also saves cost and time as compared to the use of commercial aircraft," he said.
Affendi added that the purpose of flying Mohamad on the A400M was also to provide exposure to the minister on the capability, performance, and credibility of the plane.
His statement came in light of a report lodged by lawyer Datuk Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad Zan on Monday to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over Mohamad's purported misuse of military assets.
Backer had claimed that Mohamad's use of the aircraft was a waste of public money and unnecessary due to the country's debt level, and that it was just an excuse for the minister to visit his hometown in Tasek Gelugor.