SUNGAI PETANI: The Defence Ministry's decision to make use of budget carrier AirAsia was because it needed a bigger aircraft to ferry its soldiers to Sabah.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Royal Malaysian Air Force's Charlie airplanes could only accommodate fewer than 200 soldiers each.

“Hence, we needed a bigger aircraft to send the troops to strengthen our security forces in Sabah during this critical moment,” he told reporters after attending a promotion ceremony for 183 personnel at Sungai Layar army camp here yesterday.

“This is a contract between the Defence Ministry and the airline years ago and such a practice is common in other countries.”

Ahmad Zahid was commenting on the debates among Netizens over the ministry's decision to send two battalions of soldiers to Sabah on AirAsia on March 3.

A Twitter post by AirAsia group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes that day, showing images of soldiers preparing to board the AirAsia aircraft, was shared by Netizens on Facebook.

Freelance defence journalist and analyst Dzirhan Mahadzir had also written that although the air force had 14 C-130 Hercules capable of carrying 90 soldiers each, there were some 1,400 soldiers in two battalions.

For the standoff with Sulu militants, the army had to transport between two and five battalions to Lahad Datu.

Taking to task Netizens who posted inaccurate information, Ahmad Zahid, describing them as “heartless people”, said they were deliberately trying to provoke emotions among the public.

“Most of them have no knowledge of military strategies but simply criticise the force,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid cautioned the public against speculating and questioning the way the military protected the country.

He also slammed Opposition leaders who described the Lahad Datu intrusion as a political sandiwara (drama).

“I want to remind them (the Opposition) that this is the time to set aside our differences and stay united in facing common enemies.”

Commending the media who provided first-hand information on the intrusion, he said: “The Home Minis-ter (Datuk Seri Hishammudddin Tun Hussein) and I plan to present certificates of appreciation to the journalists who worked hard to cover the incident.”

• Malaysia tycoon Vincent Tan plans IPO of football club Cardiff City
• Google, like Facebook, in talks to buy Waze for about US$1bil
• Crown selling entire 10% in rival Echo, partly owned by Genting(Update)
• First edition of 'Great Gatsby' to be sold at auction, can fetch US$150,000
• Malaysia leads the way in Basel III debt
• Markets face rough summer ride as Fed pullback feared
• Wall Street sags, HP hits 52-week high
• Commodities trader sues BP, Shell others for alleged oil price fixing
• Billionaire Icahn seeks up to US$7bil for Dell bid
• Google faces new federal antitrust probe
• Goldman Sachs unveils checks on conflicts in bid to fix tarnished image
• Air Asia's Tony Fernandes to ‘fire up’ investors
• Maybank bullish on growth, to expand regionally under new leadership
• Khazanah appoints Nor Mohamed deputy chairman
• Lafarge Malayan Cement to finalise next expansion plans by August

• Cars, schools ablaze in fifth night of Stockholm riots
• London's Heathrow airport closed after emergency landing
• Far East quake felt in Moscow, tsunami warning lifted
• Police make new arrests in London soldier killing
• Britain's press demands jailing of Islamist preacher
• Tsunami warning in Russia's Far East after 8.2 quake
• US bridge collapse sends cars, people into river
• Strong quake strikes off Tonga
• Jury fails to decide on US murderer death sentence
• One killed in Brazil giant fuel depot blaze

• Kingston leads, McIlroy in Wentworth woe
• LPGA plans 12-hole rounds in water-logged Bahamas
• Ryan Palmer sizzles with 62 to seize lead at Colonial
• Kelly overcomes scare to clinch title in KLGCC
• Time to make amends Garcia wants to meet Woods to defuse racist row
• American Johnson back to defend Colonial crown
• Rain dampens debut of LPGA Bahamas event
• Tianlang adds another US event to schedule
• Clock ticking for next golden generation
• Nadal wants to create history at Roland Garros
• Serena out to tame French Open demons
• Zheng Jie stuns Wozniacki in Brussels
• British Open: Ramy Ashour racks up 38th successive win
• Nicol David sails into quarter-finals of British Open in 35 minutes
• BAM must stop rewarding mediocrity or be doomed

• Please wait.

• Air Asia's Tony Fernandes to ‘fire up’ investors
• Singapore GDP growth surprises, beats economists’ forecast of contraction
• KL car number plates to bear ‘W1A’
• Tian, Tamrin and Haris released after remand denied (updated)
• Malaysia leads the way in Basel III debt
• Inventions a-plenty, but no real innovation
• Robber shot dead after attacking out-of-uniform cop with meat cleaver
• Three held over May 13 statements
• Fernandes does his first firing in Apprentice Asia
• Wall Street sags, HP hits 52-week high