BERNAMA NEWS
Malaysia Has No Intention Of Starting Arms Race: Najib
PARIS, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has no intention of starting an arms race and the purchase of equipment and assets worth billions of ringgit was based on the country's capability, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister said the country was not interested in competing with anyone and the move to buy the two Scorpene conventional submarines and the Russian Sukhoi-MK jetfighters was merely part of the modernisation of the Malaysian Defence Forces.
"In the case of the purchase of the submarines, for example, we had announced the acquisition four years ago.
"Just like the case of the Sukhoi-MK purchase, we are not trying to spring a surprise in the region," he told Malaysian journalists here Wednesday.
Najib, who arrived here on a four-day visit to France, aimed to enhance cooperation in the fields of defence and economy, among others.
During the visit, Najib attended the launch of Malaysia's first Scorpene at the DCNS at Cherboug on Tuesday. The vessel is expected to be delivered to Malaysia in 2009.
He said Malaysia expected the other countries to also take similar measures when their assets and defence systems became obsolete and needed to be replaced.
Just like Malaysia, he said other countries that wished to modernise their armed forces would also decide to acquire the latest technology based on their financial capacities and allocation available.
Najib, who is also the Defence Minister, said the acquisition of modern military assets was crucial to protect the country's interest and sovereignty.
"Malaysia which wants to be on par with the modern nations cannot be seen to be having third class defence system," he said.
He said it was not wrong for the government to spend a substantial amount of money to modernise the defence forces as long as the government's social responsibility to the people was not neglected.
"Socio-economic development is still being given priority and the allocation for education is still the country's top priority. Thus, we should not perceive it (arms purchase) in a negative manner," he said.
Asked whether France had an advantage in the international tender for new helicopters to replace the Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF) Nuri, Najib said any company could submit the tender which would be invited soon.
The government had announced that the Nuri or Sikorsky helicopters, made in the United Atates, which had been in use since 1969 would be phased out in stages in 2012.
-- BERNAMA
Malaysia's Education System Proved To Be Among World's Best - Najib
From Roslan Ariffin
PARIS, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein's election to Unesco's executive board with the highest number of votes proves that Malaysia's education system is among the world's best.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said this to Malaysian journalists at the end of his four-day visit to France before leaving for home via London.
He said Hishammuddin was the right candidate for the seat and his election lifted the country's image. It would also enable Malaysia to give greater contributions to the development of education system elsewhere, he said.
"I am very proud with this achievement. It proves that we have good products that have been recognised at the Unesco-level and the world," he said.
Malaysia was elected to Unesco's executive board after receiving 147 votes in the Asia-Pacific group at the organisation's 34th general conference here yesterday.
Five other countries in the group elected were South Korea (139 votes), the Philippines (137), Sri Lanka (130), Mongolia (130) and Pakistan (106), out of nine contesting countries.
Hishammuddin was an early favourite among Unesco member countries now numbering 193.
Najib said that through Malaysia's election, the country would be able export the "winning formula" of its education system to other countries.
He also expressed confidence in Hishammuddin and said that the education minister would be able to cooperate with his Unesco colleagues and uplift the country's image further throughout his 2008-2011 term.
Asked on urgent issues that need to be dealt with by Unesco, Najib said: "Ensuring education for all". "I see this as the most crucial because there are countries where only 30 per cent of their children go to school. If that is the case, the countries will face a bleak future and many serious problems," he said.
Najib said the successful Unesco bid capped a series of sterling achievement by Malaysia in a matter of days.
It started with the return of the country's first spaceman, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, from the International Space Station to earth on Sunday followed by the launch of Malaysia's first submarine in Cherbourg, France, on Tuesday.
"Praise be to God, Malaysia achieved three big feats in a short period of time," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Malaysia's First Scorpene Submarine To Be Launched Today
A special report by Roslan Ariffin
PARIS, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's ambitious plans to have a submarine fleet to enhance the nation's defence capabilities is bearing fruition, with the launch of its first submarine Tuesday.
Unveiling of the Scorpene-class underwater attack craft, is the highlight of a four-day visit to France by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
In keeping with the world's age-old navy tradition under the British empire that only women should inaugurate a ship, Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, will have the honour of performing the customary launch by breaking a bottle across the bow of the vessel at DCNS dockyard in the port city of Cherbourg, about 350km from Paris, at 1pm local time (7pm Malaysia time).
Rosmah will also officially name the state-of-the-art submarine as "KD Tunku Abdul Rahman", after Malaysia's first prime minister.
The first of the two submarines ordered for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), the 67.5m-long submarine equipped with torpedoes, sub-surface-to-surface missiles and sea mines, is manned by only a 31-member crew due to high level of automation.
Malaysia ordered for two brand-new Scorpene submarines for RM3.4 billion in 2002 which were jointly built by French shipbuilding giant Defence Conseil National and its Spanish partner, Navantia.
The RMN is expected to take delivery of the vessel inaugurated today in January 2009 and is expected to arrive in Malaysia six months later.
The second submarine, to be named "KD Tun Razak" is expected to be handed over in October 2009 and arrive in the country in March 2010.
A second-hand reconditioned submarine "Quessant", to be used for training purposes, was booked under an agreement with a Malaysian company "Armaris".
The electricity and diesel-powered Scorpene submarine, capable of operating under 350-metre deep water for 40 straight days, is suitable to be deployed in South China Sea and Straits of Melaka.
The new generation Scorpene submarine seen as "adding another feather on the cap" of the navy will surely add more firepower to the navy to protect the country's territorial waters from being encroached into by foreign submarines.
It will complement the navy's current fleet of patrol crafts in meeting the challenges of sea operations.
Currently, only Singapore has four Sewdish-made submarines, while Indonesia is to take delivery of four submarines from South Korea in a few years.
Malaysia's Scorpene submarines are expected to be based at the RM690 million navy base in Sepanggar Bay in Sabah. The 390-hectare base is the biggest navy facility for the Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan territorial waters.
Following acquisition of the submarine, the RMN has established a special submarine unit tasked with the administration of the squadron, training school and logistics for the submarines.
Currently, a 142-member navy crew and officers are undergoing a four-year training programme at the DCN Dockyard in Brest, about 500km from here, to operate the Scorpene submarines.
-- BERNAMA
Najib Confident Of Support For Malaysia From Other Nations In UNESCO
PARIS, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is condifent that Malaysia will sit on the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) which is holding its 34th conference here.
He said his confidence stemmed from the support expressed by several representatives from other nations to Unesco for Malaysia's candidate to the board, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
"The response to our reception held here was good. God willing, we have a good chance of sitting on the Unesco Executive Board," he told Malaysian reporters here today.
Earlier, Najib who arrived here for a four-day official visit to France, attended a special reception hosted by Hishammuddin at the Unesco building.
The function, which was also attended by several Unesco representatives, was held partly as a mark of support from Najib for Hishammuddin in seeking election to the 58-member Executive Board at the international body's biennial conference.
The conference is scheduled to select the board members tomorrow for a four-year term.
Najib said Malaysia's edge was its wide influence, resulting in several of the Unesco representatives seeing it as an exporter of education.
"This means that we have not only managed to develop our education system to a commendable level, but we have also managed to export our expertise and assistance to other nations.
"This also means that we should be sitting on the Unesco Executive Board as we can contribute meaningfully to the world. We are not just a recipient but a contributor as well," he added.
Since becoming a member of Unesco in 1958, the last time Malaysia was represented in the Executive Board was in 1999, by Najib who was then the Education Minister.
Earlier when speaking at the reception, Najib was given a thunderous applause by the foreign guests when he said that Malaysia had allocated 20 per cent or RM30 billion from the national budget for education.
The Unesco representatives present were also attracted by Najib's statement that although he was Defence Minister, he would always ensure that the budget for education was higher than that for enhancing Malaysia's defence system.
Asked on his meeting with French Minister of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Co-Development, Brice Hortefeux, soon after arriving here, Najib said it was aimed at enhancing relations between the two countries.
"We discussed things in general. He (Hortefeux) viewed Malaysia positively after having represented his country at Malaysia's 50th independence celebrations recently."
Najib said at the meeting, both countries also agreed to strengthen existing cordial bilateral ties while encouraging cooperation in new areas other than education, defence, trade and tourism.
Najib is expected to call on the French Defence Minister Herve Morin during his visit here.
Malaysia has diplomatic relations with France since July, 1958.
Najib will leave for Kuala Lumpur via London on Thursday.
-- BERNAMA
Najib Arrives For Four-day Visit To France
PARIS, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak arrived here Monday for a four-day visit to France to attend the launch of Malaysia's first Scorpene submarine in Cherbourg and to meet French ministers.
On hand to receive Najib, who was accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, at the Le Bourget Airport here at 1.30pm local time (7.30pm Malaysian time) were Malaysian Ambassador to France Datuk S. Thanarajasingam and senior Malaysian government officials.
This is Najib's first visit to France after Nicolas Sarkozy was elected sixth president on May 6, succeeding Jacques Chirac. Najib's last visit to France was in mid 2005.
Najib arrived here from a two-day visit to Russia to receive Malaysian angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha whose Soyuz TMA-II spacecraft landed on earth yesterday, after a 11-day stint at the International Space Station (ISS).
Tonight, Najib will attend a welcoming dinner hosted by Thanarajasingam at Malaysia House here.
Speaking to Malaysian reporters, Thanarajasingam said later today the Deputy Prime Minister will attend a reception hosted by Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein at the Unesco building here.
He said the reception was part of Najib's efforts to lend support to Hishammuddin who is vying for a seat in the 58-member Unesco's Executive Board at the ongoing biennial Unesco General Conference here.
The conference is scheduled to elect the executive board members for a four-year term on Wednesday.
A long-standing Unesco member since 1958, Malaysia's last representation in the executive board was in 1999 by Najib himself, who was then the Education Minister.
Thanarajasingam said the highlight of Najib's visit will be tomorrow when he witnesses the launch of Malaysia's own submarine in Cherbourg, a dock city where the submarine is manufactured, about 400km south-west of Paris.
He said Rosmah would launch the Scorpene submarine and name it. The second submarine will be delivered to Malaysia next year.
In Cherbourg, Najib will be briefed on the submarine by Direction des Constructions Navales Services (DCNS), the company building the Malaysian Scorpene submarines.
The 1.04 billion Euro (about RM3.4 billion) procurement of the submarines was signed in June 2002 between Malaysia, DCNS -- a French shipbuilding, submarine and naval services company, and Spanish shipbuilder Navantina.
Thanarajasingam said on Tuesday Najib, who is also Defence Minister, is scheduled to meet his French counterpart Herve Morin.
At a dinner here on Tuesday, Najib is expected to meet about 200 Malaysians and students in France.
On the third day of his visit, he will deliver a public lecture entitled "Defence-Security Issues in Southeast Asia" at Institute Francais des Relations and Internationals.
"This event is important because French leaders and the people hoped Malaysia can explain to them the regional security issues in Asean.
"Among them are the latest developments in Myanmar, security in the Straits of Melaka and possibility of an arms race in Asean (after Malaysia takes delivery of the submarine)," he said.
Najib will depart for home via London on Thursday.
Malaysia established diplomatic ties with France in July 1958.
There are about 1,000 government-sponsored students pursuing tertiary education in areas such as engineering in French universities.
Mara and Telekom Malaysia have also sent students to the European nation.
Total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from France to Malaysia from January to July stood at RM8.32 billion, making France Malaysia's fourth largest trading partner in the European Union.
Last year, France accounted for 1.63 per cent of Malaysia's global trade, comprising 1.74 per cent exports and 1.49 per cent imports.
Malaysia is France's second largest trading partner in Asean after Singapore.
Thanarajasingam said France, Malaysia's 16th largest trading partner, was looking at developing several proposals to enhance Kuala Lumpur-Paris relations since there has been a lot of cooperation between the two countries over the years.
Major exports from Malaysia are semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, cathode ray tubes, micro-assemblies, photo cells, audio and visual recorders, radios, automated data processing machines and apparel and clothing.
Imports from France are semi-conductors, telecommunications equipment, parts and accessories, manufactured goods, chemicals and foodstuff as well as cosmetics and perfumery.
French companies have also invested in Malaysia in areas such as electrical and electronics, rubber products, petroleum and coal, plastic products and food manufacturing.
-- BERNAMA /end