KOTA TINGGI: The Defence Ministry is in the final stages of negotiating the premium land price with the Sarawak state government for the construction of the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) new base, the Fourth Naval Regional Headquarters (Mawilla 4), in Bintulu, Sarawak.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that the Sarawak government had expressed strong support for the project.
The new base will be designed to accommodate the Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) upon its completion.
"We are currently negotiating the land price, which is the final issue to be resolved. Once we reach an agreement, construction of the new naval base in Bintulu will commence," he said during a press conference following a visit to the Knowledge Transfer Programme in Sedili, Johor today.
Khaled said that the only existing RMN base in East Malaysia was in Sabah, and Sarawak's shallow waters were deemed unsuitable for a naval base.
Bintulu, however, has been identified as an ideal location.
On Aug 8, Khaled said that construction would begin as soon as the land premium payment is finalised.
Discussions regarding the new base were also part of recent talks with Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg.