NST 15/09 India successfully test-fired for second time a nuclear-capable missile that can strike the major Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai. AP
I do wonder why India needs such a weapon. Is China such a serious threat to its security?
I think it's a bit crazy. Why waste so much resources? Why can't India instead use those resources to improve the life of Indians who live in these sorts of places instead,
There are millions of them, actually. I've been to India and saw for myself how those people live in the slums of Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. It's unbelievable that they can actually live in those places....and then they have their government spending billions of dollar on weapons of mass destruction which would probably never be used anyway.
I'm glad that Malaysia don't feel the need to be too militarily strong to the point of wanting a weapon which could wipe out the life of millions of people.
It doesn't matter to me what they say about our government, as for me it did the right thing by giving priority on things such as education ever since we achieved independence half a century ago.
I can't remember our defense spending exceeding more than five per cent of our annual budget.
Instead, after the implementation of the New Economic Policy, the focus has always been at improving education and wiping out poverty. To a certain extent, we have been successful. Of course there are still works to be done, but for now I believe we are moving in the right direction.
As for defense spending, I think Malaysia should from now on concentrate on bolstering the defense of our territorial water, especially the South China Sea, where we should defend our territorial claims there.
It is better to focus our defenses there than spending billions of ringgit trying to rival our immediate neighbors who would most likely be our allies in a time of conflict.
ps/ The picture of a warship escorting a tanker above comes from this story,
Anak jiran saya all through sekolah Cina dan tamat belajar disebuah Universiti dBeijing. Berkomunikasi dalam Bahasa Kebangsaan dan English tak berapa fasih.
ReplyDeleteTetapi dengar kabar dia sibuk mula belajar Bahasa Tamil kerana cadang nak kerja kat India kerana katanya India sedang pesat membangun.
Yang pelik pula, kaum India sendiri tak tergerak hati nak berhijrah pulang kerja kat kesana?
I thought in a not too long duration ago, ypu suggest we equip ourself with the latest most expensive fighter aircrafts?
ReplyDeleteI remember posting that it is good that we keep on using the cheaper Russian-made fighters rather than buying the more expensive Western-made ones.
DeleteYup, I'm glad to be a Malaysian.
ReplyDelete:D sarah
Anti piracy and threats like Sabah claim - yes, we need force.
ReplyDeleteAs for South China Sea - better use diplomacy.
And you're right - our ASEAN neighbours will most likely be our allies in times of conflict, as they may need us too.
Makcik Annie,
ReplyDeleteI can't remember our defense spending exceeding more than five per cent of our annual budget.
Perhaps maths and economics may not be your strong point.
Here is the link for the budget for MINDEF for 2013.
Total MINDEF Budget: RM 15.25 billion
Total Federal Budget : RM 251.67 billion
MINDEF % of total: 6.1%
In fact I will counter and say I can't remember the time when MINDEF budget was less than 5% of total budget.
Never mind, just keep on writing about fluffly stuff like the Chinaman and why you love Najib and hate the non-Malays.
Leave the numbers, international politics and hard facts out because they do not look good on you.
Sincerely
The Shadow Banker
To the nearest bulat kira 5% dah tu. Apa salah Annie bagi pandangan dia. Sekiranya Negara diceroboh, dia pun kena angkat senapang juga pertahankan Negara ini.
DeleteMaalumlah zaman sekarang ramai lelaki pasti laju cabut naik kapalterbang tinggalkan Negara ini kalau Negara kena attack. Lihat saja jenis2 yang tu semua. Negara dalam keadaan aman pelawa masuk kerja jadi Polis dan Askar pun no-way wan. Perang mulut saja pandai.
The matter concerned whether our military spending of 15 billions from the total federal budget of 251 billion is immaterial. Whether it is 3%, 5% or 6.1% are just numbers in percentage in relation to our defense need. But if the spending speedily reaching up to 20% in time of peace, we better be to watch out.
DeleteThe area of concern, like Anie said, "...... Malaysia should from now on concentrate on bolstering the defense of our territorial water, especially the South China Sea, where we should defend our territorial claims there."
I think Malaysia is not in the game. Because Malaysia has no sense of urgency and incapable to make the different among the voices of ASEAN. We were desensitized by the American and the Chinese constant exposures, especially the American.
We see the phenomenon of our regional maritime may seem static and wishful hope the conflict won't materialize. Meaning, next we know the area of sea conflict would possible be in our region, the South China Sea.
There were ample warnings of related insensitive of their nude arsenals and their nuclear arms race of the two super powers by inception of their global politics, economics and governances. It followed by India, Pakistan and North Korea on the pretext of deterrence.
The new conflict front would not be about the beneath energy in the South China Sea. Though the zone which amount is insignificant but it would be the beginning engagement of direct political contact between American and Chinese Navies provided the American presence and intervention being not obvious.
What can Malaysia and ASEAN do to prevent this? The only weapon of prudence Malaysia has is diplomacy in neutrality.
It was about 5 yrs ago on a trip from Delhi to Taj Mahal by car, gosh, the old meandering road from Ipoh to Penang was a breeze!
ReplyDeleteIndeed Malaysia has got its principles right by focusing on education for everyone regardless of race, language and religion. Now that the people have matured further isn't it time to fortify the country's unity by initiating the common educational curriculum for all our children (integrated with special interest subjects for the Chinese, Tamil or English language students)? Peace is fortified by unity and harmony, which is far more dependable than deterrence of evil designs by heaping up military hardware.
ReplyDeleteREF: "I've been to India and saw for myself how those people live in the slums of Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. It's unbelievable that they can actually live in those places....and then they have their government spending billions of dollar on weapons of mass destruction which would probably never be used anyway.....I do wonder why India needs such a weapon. Is China such a serious threat to its security?"
ReplyDelete"Confucius is needed in India." How come?
http://www.moneynews.com/Advani/Confucius-India-rupee-economy/2012/05/23/id/439985
yeah.. why doesnt this stupid India bomb those somali pirates instead of focusing on china..
ReplyDeletebodoh punya india..
I wonder about your comment that our immediate neighbours being allies in time of conflict. I don't disagree. If you look to Nato, most countries in Europe don't have the full capacity to defend against all types of threat, but each contributes a specialism (e.g. logistical support from the Dutch, aircraft from France, chemical warfare from the Czechs). I guess that this could happen under ASEAN but both India and China would see it as a major threat.
ReplyDeleteIndia was at war with Pakistan & still not on good
ReplyDeleteterms with her neighbor, thus their nuke missiles
could easily reached Pakistan rather than the PRC.
Myland & Indoland benefited by having the biggest
military spender albeit one of the smallest island
state in ASEAN from any foreign threats.
What foreign threats? USSR no more, PRC won't
otherwise Taiwan would be logical target rather than us,
that leaves Uncle Sam...