Malaysia gets its first submarine

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Malaysia gets its first submarine

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia today gave a rousing welcome to its first submarine with the king saying that the acquisition of the vessel is the government's biggest commitment to enhance the capability of its armed forces to safeguard the country's sovereignty.


The Scorpene submarine, named KD Tunku Abdul Rahman after the country's first premier, arrived at a naval base in Pulau Indah after a 54-day journey from France making stops at Jeddah, Djibouti and Cochin.

King Mizan Zainal Abidin, Prime Minister Najib Razak and other dignitaries watched the submarine surface at the harbour in a nationally televised ceremony.

"The acquisition enables the navy in particular, and the Malaysian Armed Forces in general, to develop a more credible and capable military force in the region," the king said.

"The acquisition of submarines for Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) is the government's biggest commitment to safeguard the sovereignty of Malaysian waters from any threat," he said.

Malaysia ordered in 2002 two diesel-electric Scorpene attack submarines at a cost of USD 900 million. The submarines were built by DCNS of France and Navantia of Spain.

The second submarine is to be delivered to Malaysia next year. Malaysia has maintained that the submarines are not meant to threaten any other country.
 

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