Scorpene submarine to berth here July

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia’s first submarine will arrive at the Royal Malaysian Navy’s second largest base in Sepanggar Bay in July.

RMN Region II commander First Admiral Syed Zahiruddin Putra Syed Osman said preparations are underway to welcome the Scorpene submarine, KD Tun Abd Rahman.

“The preparation is going smoothly. At the moment we’re working the infrastructure and quarters for the submarine crew and their families,” he said after opening the RMN’s Division II Quality Day at Sepanggar Bay yesterday.

KD Tun Abd Rahman is one of two newly acquired Scorpene submarines. The other, KD Tun Abdul Razak, will arrive at the end of the year.

On RMN’s achievements last year, Syed Zahiruddin said that the intervention of a Malaysian naval ship in rescuing a Chinese cargo vessel from being plundered by pirates in Aden Bay, Somalia in December was a proud moment.

He said the effort gained international recognition.

Nineteen officers and 153 men from the division received outstanding service certificates at the function.