'Parti yeye' crisis of accountability in armed forces

YOURSAY | “When an organisation is corrupt, you can be sure there’s plenty of sleaze.”

‘Parti yeye’ continues to plague armed forces

Ministry orders probe into alleged wild parties, sex workers in military camps

Apanama is Back: A source said it can be difficult for the Armed Forces Islamic Services Corp (Kagat) to act against such “yeye” parties because high-ranking officers are involved.

What is so difficult about taking action? Sack the high‑ranking officer, the commanding officer (CO), or the panglima (general). This is a clear breach of the code of conduct, regardless of whether the CO is religious.

They are claiming this is an isolated case and “not common”.

There must have been many such parties since the ban in 1998, but because this one went viral, they are forced to act. Otherwise, they would simply close one eye and keep quiet, as no one would know the party was being organised.

After a few weeks, these parties will continue quietly, and they will now check whether anyone is using a handphone to record videos or photos.

Usually, an internal investigation will find nothing unusual regarding immoral activities.

The news could also be fake news. All the staff, 95 percent of whom are from a highly religious group, will not indulge in such activities. Close the case quickly to ensure the “maruah” (dignity) is preserved.

Worst case, find one or two “kambing hitam” (black sheep) to ensure the case is deemed as isolated.

Justice for All 2025: Why make it complicated when it is so straightforward? Just hold the CO accountable and conduct an internal inquiry.

If the CO is guilty, mete out the proper punishment and hit them where it hurts most - the pocket. Downgrade the CO to a lower rank with a lower salary. Or, if there is a serious dereliction of duty or a breach of national security, terminate their employment.

Then haul the CO to the civil court if there are criminal elements involved, such as drug‑related offences or abuse of power.

If the CO is a Muslim, drag them to the Syariah Court for consuming alcohol and for proximity or intimacy with the “yeye” ladies.

Other officers, regardless of rank, must also be punished accordingly. This will send a strong and lasting message to others not to indulge in similar “yeye” or immoral activities inside the army premises.

PowerRanger: Regardless of who we choose to govern the country, if the prime minister does not dare to make changes, nothing will change.

All prime ministers are afraid to make changes because they fear offending certain groups or certain races. This is why Malaysia has fallen behind other Southeast Asian countries.

Corruption and incompetence have made Malaysia less competitive compared to others. The more you spoon‑feed people, the lazier they become.

Undecided: The armed forces should hold COs accountable if wild parties are discovered at military camps under their command.

Holding COs accountable is the best way to curb such parties. It is the only way to stop indiscipline among those responsible for the security of the country.

However, when corruption exists at the top, it encourages this kind of “immoral activity”.

Anonymous: No need to make a mountain out of a molehill. Every military unit has its officers’ and sergeants’ messes, and the other ranks have their own clubs.

This is not unique to the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF). It is a traditional establishment within Commonwealth countries. Even our neighbours have similar arrangements.

Being far from home, these were the places where we learned social and emotional skills from our seniors. Professional skills and experiences were also shared to enhance our combat effectiveness.

Drinking, feasting, and socialising were the norm, and all were done within the confines of rules and guidelines.

World Citizen: These “yeye” parties are an open secret, and no one should be surprised. But the bigger point is that hypocrites should not be lecturing others about consuming liquor or trying to ban shops and supermarkets from selling beer and liquor.

Dev Anand Pillai: What is there to be surprised about? We are a nation in decline because we refuse to reform after decades of abuse of power and corruption. The Defence Ministry is no exception.

These soldiers, who are supposed to be patriotic and serve with honour and integrity, are instead a corrupted and greedy lot in uniform. I wonder what will happen if they are lured into traps to release secrets about the nation’s defence capabilities.

Headhunter: When an organisation is corrupt, you can be sure there is plenty of sleaze, especially when the top leadership is neck‑deep in it. Will anyone ever be held accountable?

The Defence Ministry needs to step up, clean house, and make those who compromise our security face the consequences. History shows that senior leaders in the armed forces, including defence ministers, have often been deeply involved in massive corruption.

And really, what happened to the submarines and frigates we paid for that are either mothballed or never delivered? - Mkini