The people queue to get into RMN’s latest training ship Gagah Samudera.
BINTULU: The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) assets will be deployed to conduct maritime patrol more often to ensure the safety and security of Malaysian waters, especially off Sarawak, are at the highest level.
Eastern Fleet deputy commander First Admiral Khalid Jaafar said currently, RMN only has one operation area which is at the Gugusan Beting Patinggi Ali, about 120 nautical miles from the north of Bintulu, monitoring the area 24/7 to ensure the sovereignty of the country.
He added that regular patrols by RMN assets was also in line with its plan to set up a naval base in Bintulu.
“Bintulu was chosen because of its strategic location,” he said during a press conference at Gagah Samudera training ship at Bintulu Port yesterday.
Khalid (seated centre) flanked by Shamsuddin (left) and Nazir during a press conference onboard the Gagah Samudera training ship.
Khalid admitted the presence of RMN assets, especially in Sarawakwaters, was not that strong at the moment but with the establishment of the Eastern Fleet, more additional assets could be deployed.
“From now on, we will increase our presence to ensure our waters will always be protected and in the aspect of the perception of the maritime communities, the feeling of safety is there,” he said.
For future plans, he said the RMN has proposed to show their strong presence in Sarawak waters, particularly at the borders with Indonesia and Vietnam.
Khalid was impressed with the encouraging response from the local people in Bintulu for its Open Day programme onboard the Gagah Samudera training ship at Bintulu Port last Sunday.
“The presence of more than 10,000 people onboard the Gagah Samudera training ship was unexpected, when compared to Kuching which only recorded about 3,000 people.
“This is a clear testimony by Sarawakians, especially in Bintulu, that they welcome our presence in their area,” he added.
He said the Open Day programme was one of the initiatives to have better engagement with the locals to explain on its roles and daily operations of the crew.
“We also found out that there are not many Sarawakians serving in RMN, and this is the best avenue for us to promote and encourage the public to join the navy,” Khalid said.
Meanwhile, RMN assistant chief of staff First Admiral Shamsuddin Ludin said the last time its asset entered Bintulu Port was in 2013.
“But about 60 nautical miles from Bintulu, our ships are always patrolling Sarawak waters. But now we will ensure more frequent visits by our ships into Bintulu Port because Sarawak has the longest coastal area in the country.
“Sarawak is the economic contributor in oil and gas exploration activities, Bintulu is the main hub for the country’s economic resources at the sea,” he said.
He also believed that based on the current geopolitical development, there is a need to set up a naval base in Bintulu.
“Efforts to get the proper location for the naval base have been initiated since 2014 and we have received good cooperation from the Bintulu Development Authority, Bintulu Port Authority and the state government who have always supported us to set up our base here,” he said, adding that the nucleus team for the Region 4 Naval Base was set up last year and is led by Commander Mohd Rahmat Abdul Rahman.
“RMN also has plans to build more new ships and some of them will be placed at our naval base
in Bintulu,” he said.