LANGKAWI: After experiencing the dive with KD Tun Razak submarine for one-and-a-half hours, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng acknowledged the capability of the national submarine which was a subject of criticism by several opposition leaders for purportedly not being able to dive.
Lim also described his first submarine experience yesterday as interesting and exciting and was full of praise for the professionalism of the officers and men of the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM).
“We dived down 30 metres…there’s no doubt about it,” he told reporters after returning from the submarine cruise by helicopter at Langkawi International Airport here yesterday.
He said he was impressed with the professionalism of the commanding officer and the sailors.
“If you go into the submarine..it’s very enclosed space. For 32 officers and crew to be able to function and operate in an enclosed space for a long period of time is an exceptional and impressive achievement. I’m proud of our boys,” he said.
He said he appreciated the contributions of national heroes who served the nation and were willing to sacrifice for the nation and their professionalism was unquestionable.
However, he had a very different view on the cost of the submarine. “We need to have submarines. But there’s one thing that we have our views, its about cost,” he said.
Lim said he was invited by the Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to take a dive with the submarine and accepted the offer as he wanted to see the condition of the submarine himself.
Accompanying Lim in the submarine dive were both Penang Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Mansor Othman and Dr P. Ramasamy. Also joining the submarine cruise were three media representatives from Bernama and TV3.
Meanwhile Ahmad Zahid who received Lim at the airport said the KD Tun Razak submarine had to travel for 45 nautical miles since 10am before it reached deeper water to dive.
He hoped Lim would relate the actual experience yesterday so that the issue of defence was not politicised. — Bernama