KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government faced a storm of criticism today over allegations of official corruption after the theft of two US-made fighter jet engines worth $29 million.

News reports this week said the stolen Northrop F-5E jet engines had been sold on the black market by military officers to a South American company. They had been taken from a military airbase, apparently last year.

Armed forces chief Azizan

Ariffin said the theft was only the “tip of the iceberg” after a newly completed audit revealed equipment worth millions was also missing, the New Straits Times reported yesterday.

Police have reportedly arrested four individuals, including the buyer of the engines, the seller and air force personnel who assisted in the theft. Besides the engines, military equipment including parts of the jet fighter were stolen.

“The government should declare it has failed in the

fight against corruption. The

country is heading in the direction of a failed state like Zimbabwe,” prominent opposition lawmaker Tian Chua said.

“The theft could not have

happened without the sanction

of top officials,” he said.

Government officials could not be reached for comment.

Prime Minister Najib Razak has vowed a full and open investigation. But Tian said that under Najib’s leadership, national wealth was being plundered and that defence expenditure is used for kickbacks to government cronies. “In return, they provide political funding to the ruling politicians to remain in power,” the outspoken lawmaker added.

Malaysia’s opposition claims that an illegal commission

of $157 million was paid to a close associate of Najib to help

broker the purchase of two French-made submarines. The prime minister has denied there was any wrongdoing in the deal, which was signed in 2002 when he was defence minister.

Khalid Samad, a lawmaker with the opposition Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party, said the latest scandal showed it was “business as usual” for Najib. Armed forces chief Azizan said those found guilty of stealing and selling the engines should be charged with treason.

The end buyer of the stolen kit was not immediately clear. A number of countries subject to US arms embargoes, including Iran, Sudan and Venezuela, have F-5 fighters that use the antiquated engines.