Malaysia's Navy executes landmark missile and torpedo firings, strengthens defence posture in South China Sea, says defence minister
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the exercise involved the firing of Exocet MM40 missiles by KD Lekiu and KD Lekir, as well as the firing of Exocet SM39 missiles in coordination from the submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman.
He said the exercise also made history as it involved submarine KD Tun Razak firing a Black Shark torpedo in a war configuration for the first time.
'For the Exocet missile, the firing was carried out at a distance of more than 30 kilometres while for the Black Shark torpedo, it was at a distance of less than 10 kilometres. The exercise is necessary for us to improve the readiness and capabilities of our armed forces.
'It aims to ensure that at all times, in any situation, our armed forces are always competent in defending the country,' he said at a press conference after witnessing the exercise here today.
Also present were Ministry of Defence secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, Royal Malaysian Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy Ithnain, Chief of Staff of the Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters Left Gen Datuk Azhan Md Othman and other RMN senior officers.
Exercise TAMING SARI 23/25 was completed together with Exercise KERISMAS 28/25 starting from July 8 to 31 from Lumut Royal Malaysian Navy Base and ending at the Kota Kinabalu Royal Malaysian Navy Base.
It covers the Malaysian maritime zone in the South China Sea by focusing on the ability to operate in various maritime domains as well as the interoperability capabilities between the units involved.
Mohamed Khaled said the exercise involved 15 ships and two submarines from RMN, supported by assets from the Army, Royal Malaysian Air Force, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
He said the exercise also aimed to assess the current status of the country's defence assets, especially from RMN, as some of them were old, but were still at an optimal level to achieve the national defence objectives.
'So far, all assets are functioning well but this does not mean that we do not have long-term plans. We are aware of the condition of the aged assets. All our services are undergoing a modernisation process under the future force policy.'
'We need to understand the importance of readiness. Our defence doctrine is not to attack other countries but to develop the ability to defend the country. National defence does not only depend on the ownership of assets but also on the ability of our personnel to carry out their responsibilities,' he explained. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
10 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Kota Kinabalu City Hall proposes rebuilding historic community landmark after fire
KOTA KINABALU, Aug 1 — Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) will propose to the state government that the historic Kota Kinabalu Community Hall be rebuilt rather than demolished, following a fire that destroyed much of the building earlier this week. Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah confirmed that the blaze had gutted more than half of the iconic structure, particularly the wooden fittings and roof, and said the building would require significant reconstruction and refurbishment. 'The damage is more than 50 per cent, especially the roof, which collapsed, and also the walls — most of the fittings were made of wood and plywood. Those materials burned quickly. However, the concrete parts were not affected,' he said at the launch of the Jalur Gemilang 2025 campaign today. Despite the extent of the damage, he said City Hall had no plans to demolish the building and instead hoped to preserve its original structure. 'Perhaps we will upgrade the landscape outside to make it more visually appealing. But preserving the original form is one of the options we will propose to the state government,' said Sabin. He said a full investigation by the Fire and Rescue Services Department was underway to determine the cause of the blaze, which broke out late Sunday night and engulfed a large section of the hall. 'Once that is complete, we will present it to the Cabinet regarding the next steps to restore the hall, which can be considered a historic building for the state of Sabah,' he said. The Kota Kinabalu Community Hall, a post-World War II landmark built in 1958, was nearly destroyed in the fire that started just after midnight three days ago. Initial reports estimated that around 80 per cent of the building was damaged. Originally opened by then British North Borneo Governor Sir Roland Turnbull, the hall has long been considered a symbol of post-war reconstruction, after much of Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) was flattened during the Allied liberation of Sabah. Over the decades, it has served as a vital venue for civic and political events, cultural exhibitions, and even sporting matches. Former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee has called for the community hall to be fully restored in its original design, stressing that only facilities like the toilets and café should be upgraded. 'It is a well-known community centre and has been the site of many momentous and historic events from the colonial era until today,' he said yesterday. The hall was officially gazetted as a Cultural Heritage Conservation site under the Sabah Cultural Heritage Conservation Enactment 1997 and remains protected under that law.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
Mukah forest fire tamed by aerial assault — 6,360 litres dropped before chopper glitch (VIDEO)
SIBU, July 31 — Aerial water bombing using a helicopter has successfully slowed the spread of a forest fire covering approximately 105ha in Mukah. Mukah Fire and Rescue Station chief Nicholas Belulin said the firefighting operation was carried out by the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) using an Mi-171 helicopter equipped with an underslung water bombing system. 'A total of four water bombings were carried out at 3.30pm, releasing 6,360 litres of water over the affected area,' he said in a statement early this morning. 'This prompt action managed to slow the fire's movement and helped prevent it from spreading to nearby areas.' However, the operation was halted after 42 minutes due to technical issues with the aircraft's system. 'Inspection found that several components need to be replaced, and the spare parts will be delivered by the maintenance team via road tonight (last night),' he said. Nicholas added that yesterday's operation was conducted in hazy conditions, with visibility at around 8km and winds blowing at speeds of 10 to 15 knots. According to him, the forest fire in Mukah was first detected on July 24 and firefighting efforts have been ongoing in stages since then. 'The Fire and Rescue Department has been conducting aerial monitoring and creating fire breaks to prevent the blaze from spreading further into oil palm plantations and nearby settlements.' He added that water bombing was introduced as an additional measure after the fire proved difficult to control through conventional ground-based methods due to the vast area and limited accessibility. Operations are expected to resume today, pending confirmation that the aircraft is safe and operational. — Bernama
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
The quieter kind of patriot — Nahrizul Adib
JULY 31 — There are patriots you see on TV — flags waving, rifles carrying, speeches thundering, parades marching to the rhythm of history. And then there are others — quieter, less photogenic, sometimes not even sure if they count. I personally used to think patriotism had to be loud. That it had to come with a dramatic gesture: becoming a PGA soldier protecting the country in Sarawak, climbing Gunung Kinabalu with the Jalur Gemilang, shouting Tunku's 'Merdeka!' cry at just the right pitch for a theatre performance, or reminiscing the sacrifices made by our soldiers by organising a trip to Tugu Negara. Maybe with a drone shot thrown in for the group photo. But over time, with different groups of people and many kopi sessions and slow walks across this imperfect, beautiful land, I've grown curious about another kind of patriot. The kind who doesn't post on their socials about Merdeka, but still pays the utility bills on time every month. The kind who returns their tray at non-Ikea food courts, who holds back an eye-roll and speaks kindly even when dealing with difficult customers, who sees one more student after the lecture ended on late Friday afternoons, even when the body says no and the weekend is calling. These are not grand acts. They won't make it into any Petronas Merdeka video. But they carry something important: a quiet, persistent belief that this country is worth showing up for. Take, for example, the man who repairs your broken brake lights without overcharging you, even when he knows you won't check the bill and don't know the actual cost of the parts. Or the civil servant who wears batik on Thursday because she wants to, not because she's told to. Or the fresh grad who stays in the country, despite all the enticing offers of higher salary in that neighbouring country. The truth is, most people I know are this kind of patriot. They don't wear their love for Malaysia on their sleeves — partly because sleeves are already rolled up doing the actual work. They don't go viral for what they do, and frankly, most of them wouldn't want to. — Oliver Hale/Unsplash pic None of this is glamorous. But then again, neither is nation-building. Most of it is unglamorous. It's late nights, slow systems, second-guessing policies, working with people you didn't vote for. It's fixing what's broken without waiting for permission. It's trusting the process, even when the process feels like a queue at a viral nasi goreng place just opened in Bukit Bintang. I reckon we've been taught to expect patriotism as a spectacle — flags on cars, fireworks in the sky, trending hashtags and recitations. And that's fine. But maybe, just maybe, we can also recognise the ones who don't march, don't shout, but still love this land like it's their only one. They are the ones who check if the elderly neighbour's bin has been brought in. Who still feel pride when hearing the Negaraku, even if only under their breath. They're not waving flags. They're holding the line. The truth is, most people I know are this kind of patriot. They don't wear their love for Malaysia on their sleeves — partly because sleeves are already rolled up doing the actual work. They don't go viral for what they do, and frankly, most of them wouldn't want to. And yet, it's these quiet gestures that give this country its backbone. They're the reason your street gets cleaned, and your parcel eventually arrives (even if two days late and slightly squashed). They're also the reason some of us still believe we can get better — not because we've reached perfection, but because we know people who haven't given up. I sometimes wonder what it would take for us to change the way we talk about patriotism. Maybe we should start counting not just the medals and moments of glory, but also the mundane acts of care. The things done without fanfare. The daily kindnesses. The grit to stay. We're told often enough what's wrong with this country. And truth be told, there's plenty to fix. But maybe in the midst of that fixing, we can take a moment this August to notice the ones who are quietly holding us together. Who are still choosing, every day, to stay. To help. To care. To build something better — even if it's just in their own little corner of Malaysia. Because sometimes, patriotism isn't loud. Sometimes, it's just… Consistent. * Ir Dr Nahrizul Adib Kadri is a professor of biomedical engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, and the Principal of Ibnu Sina Residential College, Universiti Malaya. He may be reached at [email protected] ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
