KOTA KINABALU: The Defence Ministry plans to acquire two more submarines as part of the Royal Malaysian Navy's 15 to 5 Transformation Plan.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the first submarine will be acquired under the 14th Malaysia Plan (2031-2035) while the second submarine will be acquired under the 15th Malaysia Plan (2036-2040).
"In general, the government's investment in acquiring the submarines for the navy have provided the benefit of ensuring that the country's maritime interests are always protected.
"The navy's submarines are the country's strategic assets that have enhanced the navy's fleet capability in tandem with the maritime defence strategic needs to handle the regional and global geo-strategic situations especially issues regarding the South China Sea.
"The long term plan for the modernisation of the navy's fleet includes the acquisitions of other surface ships and this will strengthen the navy's capability in facing the new era of warfare," said Mohamad.
He was speaking after visiting the Lok Kawi Army Camp and the Sepanggar naval base in Sabah. Also present were navy chief Admiral Datuk Abdul Rahman Ayob and the Eastern Fleet commander Rear Admiral Datuk Muhammad Ruzelme Fahimy.
Mohamad also said that the navy also planned to acquire the second batch of the Littoral Mission Ship (LMSB2).
"The plan for LMSB2 has been registered in the acquisition plan under the 12th Malaysia Plan and is currently awaiting approval from the Finance Ministry."
Malaysia currently operates two Scorpene submarines which were acquired in 2009 and 2010 and are based in Sepanggar.