Article Posted on : - Dec 01, 2009

The Royal Malaysian Navy multi-role support ship KD Sri Indera Sakti. Image Credit: US Navy Photo

LANGKAWI (BNS): Malaysia plans to buy three 'Multi Support Ships' (MSS's) to strengthen the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said priority would be given to the company or country that agreed to transfer technology and impart training to the RMN.

The procurement of the vessels would be done via open tender to "friendly" nations under the 10th Malaysian Plan right up to the 12th Malaysian Plan, a report by Bernama said on Monday.

"The RMN will send a group of officers to make an evaluation to determine the design and size of the vessel so that it is suitable for use by the navy.

"Besides that the 'friendly' nation will be given a contract to build one of the three vessels here to allow for transfer of technology," Ahmad Zahid was quoted as saying.

The Defence Minister, who was in Langkawi to monitor preparations for the Langkawi International Marritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima 2009), said the construction would take 48 months.

"We will take the opportunity to learn about the capabilities of the Multi Role Ship (MRS) from Korea and a Singaporean battleship equipped with sophisticated missiles," he said.