Put military assets: Malaysia demanded an explanation from China

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Commander of the 26th Army, General Datuk Seri Zulkiple Kassim was appointed to replace Army Chief Gen Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor at the parade Duty Handover and Power Chief of Army Staff at the Sungai Besi Camp today.

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia will demand an explanation from China on the alleged placement of military assets in the republic's seven artificial islands in the South China Sea.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said he would write a letter to his counterpart in China, General Chang Wanquan in the near future for this purpose.

"I will also write a letter to US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter on the picture revealed by non-governmental organizations United States, Transparency Initiative Maritime Asia (MTI) showed (against) the assets of Chinese troops parked in the water," he said at the handover Task Force Commander of the 19th Army, here, today.

He said, the matter may be of concern to the international community but could undermine stability and security in the South China Sea if the allegations were proven true.

Earlier, he witnessed the use of power and hand over the job of Chief of the Armed Forces of the 19th General Tan Sri Dr Zulkifli Mohd Zin and General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor held in the auditorium of the Defence Ministry here.

Raja Mohamed Affandi who previously served as Chief of the Army for about three years, was officially appointed as the Commander of the Army's 19th today.

He replaced Zulkifli who resigned today and will be retired. Raja Mohamed Affandi, 59, who began his service in the armed forces in 1976, said the trust will be held with the utmost integrity and responsibility.

West Field Army commander Gen Datuk Seri Zulkiple Kassim took over as commander of the Army's 26th today.

At the event, Hishammuddin also announced the appointment of Deputy Chief of Air Force, Lt. Gen. Datuk Seri Affandi Remove the new Air Force chief Jen Tan Sri replace Roslan Saad, who will retire effective December 21 this.