Marhalim Abas, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, covers Southeast Asian defense. He has worked as a journalist specializing in Southeast Asia defense and security since 1994, initially with the New Straits Times newspaper.
Bad weather appears to have been a factor in the fatal crash of an Indonesian Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules on Dec. 18, air force Chief of Staff Agus Supriatna says.