HULU KLANG, 17 FEB: A former air force general who is now active in PKR was slandered as being a mastermind in the jet engine theft case five years ago.
It is believed that the defamation of Brigade General (Rtd) Datuk Abdul Hadi Al-Khatab was made to scare and taint his reputation to stop him from disclosing irregularities in military institutions.
The defamation was disseminated via leaflets at a series of People’s Independence Tour talks, featuring other top military officials and PKR Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, at the Recreation Park in AU3 Keramat last night.
The leaflets tried to connect Abdul Hadi in the scandal where two F-SE Northrop jet engines were stolen from an Air Force base in 2007.
The two engines were claimed to have been sold in the black market to a company in Uruguay.
“When I was on the way here, I received a leaflet defaming the military which was being distributed. Do not try to challenge my patience, I am not shaken or afraid,”
Abdul Hadi challenged the Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to reveal the real mastermind in the scandal of the lost F-SE jet engines in 2007.
He also sought an explanation from the Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) regarding the scandal.
“I want to tell Zahid Hamidi, I want to ask about the current armed forces leadership, I want to ask the former Chiefs of the Armed Forces who have retired.
“He is responsible, I want to challenge him if he dares, do not play around with people, if I am scared, I would not dare to stand here, challenge me anywhere,” he said sternly.
Until now, the courts have not reached any decision regarding the loss of the jet engines, said Abdul Hadi who is the PKR Security Consultative Chairman.
“Cases such as the purchase of the Scorpene, helicopters and others, till now, there have been not answers. The future of the country and the future generation depends on the GE-13,” he said in front of nearly 4,000 attendees.
The talks also featured former Deputy Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General (Rtd) Datuk Abdul Ghafil Abdul Hamid, former KAGAT Director, Brigade General (Rtd) Datuk Najmi Abdul Hamid, and Navy First Admiral (Rtd), Imran Abdul Hamid.