LETTERS: Just when we thought we would never again see five-digit Covid-19 daily infection numbers, it is back with a vengeance. No thanks to the Omicron variant.
The government is pulling out all the stops to keep a lid on infections, and rightly so.
But as the government battles the onslaught of this unseen enemy that has caused untold damage to our public health and economy, we shouldn't let our guard down on other national threats.
The pandemic will blow over eventually, but other threats still loom, especially if we allow ourselves to be distracted. One matter is national defence, which if we ignore would be at our own peril.
Malaysia is a maritime state with a coastline measuring more than 6,037km and a sea area more than twice the size of our landmass.
We are geographically strategic, amid rising tension between the United States and China, both of which are seeking to expand their influence in this region.
Which brings me to the question: What will happen if Malaysia goes to war? We rely on only four combat ships, all older than 30 years, to defend our sovereignty.
With such odds, one must wonder if we have given those willing to die for us a fighting chance, if any chance at all.
In 2013, we were lucky that the Sulu insurgents were a ragtag bunch. But if we are forced to face a better funded, better equipped and more organised militia, we could live to regret our complacency and negligence, perhaps paying for our mistakes with the lives of our brave servicemen.
During the Sulu invasion, we know of at least 78 casualties from both sides and every life lost is one too many. For those who did survive, they live tormented by their experience.
I heard of a story relayed by a retired major from the Royal Medical Corps of the army who recalls an event where a local family was caught in the crossfire when a fleeing insurgent hid in their home. Everyone died, except for one baby. That is just one story and there are many others like it.
These are horrifying memories, painful losses and mental traumas that will live on for a generation, keeping the fire of hatred and simmering conflict alive, each time taking us one step further away from long-term peace.
Some years back, the government announced plans to build littoral combat ships (LCS).
The LCS project was approved for a very specific purpose, which was to upgrade our naval capability and deter foreign threats. Foreign threats come in various shapes and sizes, from pirates, to armed militants, to foreign coast guards and navies.
Without the financial resources to build an armada that could match the numerical strength of rival fleets, Malaysia must instead rely on qualitative superiority. The LCS offers this through its state-of-the-art technology, making its urgent delivery to the Royal Malaysian Navy essential for our continued security.
But as with many lucrative projects in the country, the LCS project has been tainted by allegations of corruption. As a result, the ambitious project has been delayed.
Failure to make clear policy decisions could cost lives.
Indonesia last week bought six of 52 Rafale fighter jets from France costing US$8.1 billion. It is also set to buy 36 F-15ID fighters from the United States at US$13.9 billion.
It is time we prioritise our defence by putting the money where our mouth is, by deterring conflict through qualitative superiority. Like battling Covid-19, we need to be on guard and ready. The nation's sovereignty is at stake.
RAHIMI MOHD NOR
Bangi, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times