Lawyer lodges MACC report on Mat Sabu ‘misusing’ military plane

Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad Zan claims a military flight to ferry the defence minister to the RMAF base in Butterworth near his hometown was unnecessary and extravagant as it cost RM199,125.

Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad Zan outside the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya after lodging the report on the ‘misuse’ of a military aircraft by Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu.

GEORGE TOWN: A lawyer has lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu’s recent trip to Butterworth in a military aircraft constituted misuse of military assets.

Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad Zan said although Mohamad had flown in to attend a buka puasa event at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base there, he had later left for his hometown of Tasek Gelugor nearby for another function.

Backer said while he was not against Mohamad attending events as he pleased, the use of military assets was wasteful and unnecessary, claiming each trip could easily cost “at least US$50,000 (RM199,125)”.

On Saturday, Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, was flown in to Butterworth in a RMAF Airbus A400M aircraft at 5.15pm.

He was accompanied by his wife and top generals from the armed and air forces for a “buka puasa” (breaking of fast) event at the Butterworth air base.

He then attended another buka puasa event at his ancestral home in Kampung Guar Petai, Tasek Gelugor.

Backer alleged that the RMAF had organised its buka puasa event to justify the trip.

“It is just a mere excuse,” he said. “I think it is too expensive. If you want to fly to Penang, you do not need to spend US$50,000. You can fly commercial flights, even in first or business class.

“Better yet, you can drive there with military outriders. We have a trillion ringgit debt, why do we need to burden the country further?” he told FMT later.

Asked how he reached the US$50,000 estimate, he said he was tipped-off by “whistleblowers” and those in the aircraft industry, adding that it took into account fuel and ground operations costs.

Backer lodged the report at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya this morning, urging them to investigate possible misuse of military assets over the trip.

In his report, he said the defence ministry’s secretary-general, as well as the chiefs of the Malaysian Armed Forces and RMAF should be probed.

He also urged MACC to probe former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein who, he felt, was as guilty as Mat Sabu in making such trips during his tenure.

He claimed that the fly-in to Butterworth in a military plane was likely a form of “ampu” (flattery) by the generals, alleging that they were courting Mat Sabu to extend their contracts as they neared retirement.

“As for Mat Sabu, I am sure you wanted to fly on a (military) plane so badly. But let it be for official reasons, not for balik kampung,” he said.

FMT has contacted Mohamad and Hishammuddin for comment and are awaiting their replies. -FMT