KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Negligence is the cause of the tragedy that claimed the lives of three paratroopers during a training session in preparation for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace 2007 exhibition on Dec 2.

Defence Forces' chief Jen Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal said the paratroopers were negligent in not following the procedures when making the sky jump.

"The tragedy occurred due to the paratroopers? negligence. Jumping from the sky is of high risk," he told reporters after closing a diploma course at the Armed Forces Defence College yesterday.

He said a full report on the findings into the mishap would be known soon.

Abdul Aziz however declined to comment when asked on the actual procedures to follow when performing a sky jump.

Three paratroopers, two of them women, drowned and 11 others were injured during a training session that went awry .

The paratroopers from the 10th Para Brigade drowned when they parachuted into the sea off Kuala Muda after they were blown off course by strong winds when training for the opening of Lima 2007.

Strong winds pushed them away from the designated landing spot.

The mishap happened when a group of 160 paratroopers in two C130 aircraft were on a training demonstration on airfield seizure, with their targeted landing at the Langkawi International Airport.

Abdul Aziz said skyjumping training would be upgraded to ensure such mishaps did not recur.

"Paratroopers' competence level will be improved and their abilities and self-resilience enhanced," he said.

Earlier, Abdul Aziz handed diplomas to 40 graduates, 19 from the army, eight from the airforce , seven from the navy , two from the police and one each from the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.

N. Ganesh, 47, from the navy was adjudged the best overall course participant. - Bernama