Next they will steal a tank for scrap metal
Ratbatblue: First of all, my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims in this tragedy. Due to the negligence of one person, many lives were lost. May their souls rest in peace.Coming to the “explanation” given by deputy inspector-general of police Noor Rashid Ibrahim, I think this statement of his should be taken with tons of salt.
One of the first things a soldier learns is never to neglect the weapon placed under his charge. Second, it’s a grave offence to take service weapons home without permission from superiors, what more a mortar bomb.
Maybe the police are withholding information until investigations were complete, but still to make such a statement is unbecoming of a senior police officer. Let’s hope this soldier is not an IS (Islamic State) operative or representative here.
Third, I agree with many commenters in this Malaysiakini forum that it is not worth to expose oneself to so much danger to extract so small an amount of metal from so dangerous a weapon.
Wg321: It is understandable if the soldier (Ayub Hashim) stole a hand grenade from the armoury. How could he manage to steal an anti-tank rocket which weigh perhaps 3kg or 4kg and at least two feet long from the armoury?
The storekeeper of the armoury must be sleeping on the job. Nobody has been court-martialed for such a gross negligence. However, an air force officer who made a police report over the ‘fake’ indelible ink during the 13th general election was court-martialed.
If the deputy IGP (inspector-general of police) can conclude that the army personnel tried to dismantle the anti-tank rocket to collect scrap metal for sale, we can also conclude he may collect the gunpowder from it to sell to people who know how to make homemade bombs.
Indeed, he can make more money from gunpowder than scrap metals.
Anonymous$&@?: Deputy IGP, thanks for assuring us that the bombs were stolen for scrap metal but we want to know how low-ranking officers are able to ‘steal’ explosives without being detected.
Has anyone in the armoury been arrested for not being diligent or was there more to it than meets the eye? Like the culprits in the auditor-general’s reports, these rotten eggs will get away without any reprimand.
Liew Lean Kut: Stealing live ammunition from army camp for the copper in them? How much copper can you get from them? RM100, RM200, RM300?
If he is caught, he will be court marshaled and expelled and go to jail. I don’t think anybody will risk his career and reputation for such a small amount of money.
I do not believe the reason given by deputy IGP. The culprit most probably wants the explosive inside them for making bombs for other purposes.
Please investigate deeply into this, there may be IS members in our mist.
Ex-PJ: This is pure speculation on the deputy IGP’s part as the investigation has yet to yield any leads. I can speculate that any half intelligent person will not mess around with a high explosive round just to get the metal parts.
Not in his backyard with a pregnant wife and kid around. Wake up, Mr Policeman.
Eyespye: Dear Deputy IGP, I’m not saying you are stupid, but the rationale given for the theft is exceedingly stupid. ‘Out of this world’ stupid, in fact.
You can steal more copper from building lightning arresters than can be extracted from a single shell or bomb.
But if you say this was what happened, then it can mean one of two things – the rationale is stupid, or the soldier was stupid.
If the former, then you really need to dream up better excuses; if the latter, then we really need to prevent stupid people handling live ammunition, protecting our borders and defending the nation.
Clongviews: Since it is reported that the bombs were stolen from the army, a joint police/army investigative board should start work immediately and its findings be submitted to the coroner’s office as lives were lost.
The army chief should explain whether any disciplinary action has been taken against the camp commandant. Who knows a tank could be stolen and dismantled for scrap. Check the scrap dealers!
Telestai!: The deputy IGP must have been dreaming if he thinks that someone would steal anti-tank rockets just for the copper.
So if we find a few of the MIG29 fighter jets missing, will you be checking the nearest scrap yards?
Obviously the rockets are worth a thousand times more than the scrap metal in the hands of militants.
AJ: I could imagine Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein saying, “We don’t have enough weapons as it has been moved to the scrap yard. We have to go buy more.”
Perhaps this may help draw for more recruits – monthly pay plus a few of bombs for allowance.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakinisubscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.
These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
