Malaysia's ageing navy to get major upgrade with five new combat and three mission ships, says deputy defence minister
SUBANG, May 2 — The Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) capability to defend national waters will be significantly enhanced with the procurement of five Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) and three Littoral Mission Ships (LMS), scheduled to begin next year, said Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari.
He said construction progress for both classes of vessels was satisfactory, with the first LCS expected to be delivered in August next year and the LMS fleet in 2027.
'The government remains committed to enhancing the navy's capabilities by equipping it with new assets. We are also ensuring these ships are fitted with advanced technology to meet our defence needs,' he told reporters after the launch of a digital studio at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) TUDM Subang today.
He was responding to a news portal report highlighting the challenges faced by the RMN due to its ageing combat fleet.
Adly added that the first LCS is undergoing port and sea trials, while construction of the LMS is underway following the finalisation of its procurement from Turkish defence firm Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik in June last year.
Meanwhile, Adly said the new digital studio at SK TUDM Subang under the Affin Digital Space programme is part of the Ministry of Defence's initiative to digitalise schools located in army camps.
He said the studio is equipped with green screen technology, allowing students and teachers to carry out media-based programmes with creative digital content.
SK TUDM Subang is the second school to be involved in the initiative, following the launch of a similar studio at SK Kementah in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year. The next rollout is scheduled for June at SK Sir Sultan Ibrahim in Kluang, Johor.
'The digital studios at these three schools are made possible through an RM94,000 contribution from Affin Bank. The ministry hopes to eventually expand the initiative to all 27 schools located in camps nationwide,' he said.
Also present at the launch were Affin Bank Berhad Group's chief executive officer of Community Banking, Mohammad Fairuz Mohd Radi, and SK TUDM Subang headmistress, Zatul Bazamah Abu Bakar. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Indonesia Cements Status as China's Top ASEAN Partner with Historic Currency Pact – EBC Financial Group Insights
JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 5 June 2025 - As one of China's largest ASEAN trading partners, with bilateral commerce reaching USD147.80 billion in 2024 (6.1% YoY growth), Indonesia has solidified its economic ties with China. During Chinese Premier Li Qiang's state visit ahead of the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, the two nations signed four new MoUs—most critically, an upgraded Local Currency Settlement (LCS) pact between Bank Indonesia (BI) and the People's Bank of China (PBOC). EBC Financial Group (EBC), a leading brokerage firm, examines how this agreement redefines Indonesia's economic resilience. Sectoral Wins: The Foundation for Deeper Ties The accords support Indonesia's LCS framework across key sectors. Trade and tourism will benefit from streamlined visa policies, targeting 2 million Chinese visitors in 2025. A USD5 billion commitment for twin industrial parks (Fujian-Batang SEZ) will create over 100,000 jobs. Soft power initiatives, like joint TB vaccine research and media collaboration, strengthen people-to-people ties. The LCS Breakthrough: Financial Sovereignty in Action The BI-PBOC agreement enables Rupiah-Yuan use in capital accounts, offering three advantages: • Trade Shield: Bilateral trade (USD147.80B in 2024, +6.1% YoY) avoids costly USD conversions for exports like palm oil and nickel. • Rate Cut Buffer: BI gains flexibility with 5.3% of reserves in yuan, easing policy without destabilising the Rupiah. • BRICS Leverage: Access to New Development Bank funding supports President Prabowo's USD20B infrastructure agenda, reducing dollar reliance. 'This isn't just about cutting transaction fees—it's a recalibration of Indonesia's financial DNA,' says David Barrett, CEO of EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd. 'By enabling Yuan-backed trade and investment flows, BI is building a hedge against Fed policy shocks.' ASEAN's New Template: Unity Amid Global Realignments China-ASEAN trade hit USD330B (Jan-Apr 2025, +9.2% YoY), with Indonesia leading regional integration. The upgraded CAFTA 3.0 and ASEAN-GCC-China Summit highlight diversified economic partnerships. As Barrett notes, 'Indonesia is crafting a blueprint for monetary diversification. The Local Currency Settlement (LCS) deal illustrates how mid-sized economies can reduce overreliance on a single dominant currency, balancing regional cohesion with global standards.'
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Turkey to press allies for access to EU defence funds
FILE PHOTO: Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler attends a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on establishing a mine countermeasures naval group in the Black Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey, January 11, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey will press European allies which plan to sharply ramp up their defence spending to ease restrictions that now require most of that money to be spent in the EU, Defence Minister Yasar Guler told Reuters on Wednesday ahead of a NATO meeting. In written answers to questions from Reuters, Guler also said Turkey hopes a potential meeting between Donald Trump and Tayyip Erdogan will finally yield progress in lifting U.S. sanctions that expelled Turkey from the F-35 jet programme. Guler said Turkey, which has the second biggest army in NATO after the United States, has advanced capabilities in areas such as drones, which would be valuable to its allies as they plan major new spending on defence. "Allies need to spend not only more, but also smarter – and there is a need for more cooperation than ever before," Guler said when asked about Trump's call on the alliance to ramp up defence spending to target 5% of output. Many European nations have announced plans for major increases in defence spending. The EU itself, driven by fears of a Russian attack and doubts about U.S. security commitments, has approved creating a 150 billion-euro ($170 billion) EU arms fund to boost the defence industry, labelled the SAFE scheme. But it mandates that 65% of projects are funded by firms in the bloc, the broader European Economic Area, or Ukraine. Guler said such restrictions would exclude non-EU countries like Turkey from Europe's defence and security architecture, which he said was "an issue that cannot be discussed only within the EU". Turkey wants to "build the security of the future together" with the EU, and would continue to work with "open-minded and visionary European allies within or outside SAFE," he said, specifically listing drones, air defences, naval systems, armoured vehicles and land platforms, electronic warfare and radar systems, ammunition and rocket systems. Greece, Turkey's longstanding adversary, has demanded Ankara lift a lift a 30-year old war threat over territorial waters to be permitted to access EU defence funds. Guler said such demands were a mistake, amounting to "involving multilateral platforms in bilateral disputes". Ankara's defence cooperation with its NATO allies has been hampered in recent years by U.S. sanctions imposed over a Turkish decision to buy Russian S-400 air defence systems, which resulted in Turkey's expulsion from the U.S.-led F-35 programme as both a buyer and manufacturer of the advanced jets. Erdogan has expressed confidence that Trump, with whom he has good personal ties, will find a solution that relieves Turkey's defence industry of the sanctions. A potential meeting between Erdogan and Trump, and the close ties between them, can "breathe new life" into bilateral defence ties and help lift the sanctions, Guler said. Although Ankara would not give up the S-400s, lifting the sanctions would let it consider returning to the F-35 project, he said. ($1 = 0.8792 euros) (Writing by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Jonathan Spicer and Peter Graff)
Sinar Daily
5 days ago
- Sinar Daily
Durian season begins: How to feast safely and where to get the best deals
Overindulging can lead to that dreaded 'heaty' feeling, often marked by sore throats, mouth ulcers or even mild dehydration. Photo for illustrative purposes only. (Canva) DURIAN season has officially kicked off in Malaysia, and with the King of Fruits flooding markets nationwide, it's the perfect time to indulge in this thorny delicacy. However, as any seasoned durian fan knows, overindulging can lead to that dreaded 'heaty' feeling, often marked by sore throats, mouth ulcers or even mild dehydration. To enjoy durian without the downsides, here are some tried-and-true tips: Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water before and after eating durian to help your body balance the heatiness. Avoid caffeine and alcohol: Combining these with durian can strain your digestion and increase internal heat. Pair with cooling foods: Some swear by drinking coconut water or eating mangosteen (dubbed the "queen of fruits") to balance durian's effects. Moderation is key: As tempting as it is, avoid consuming too much in one sitting, especially in this hot, dry spell. With the heatwave persisting across parts of Malaysia, taking care while enjoying your seasonal favourites is more important than ever. Where to get your fix – Meet Syabab Fresh Amid the durian frenzy, Syabab Fresh is emerging as a go-to name for quality durians at fair prices. Known primarily for its thriving presence on TikTok Shop, Syabab Fresh made the leap to online retail in January 2023. Initially starting with date sales during Ramadan, their success prompted an expansion into a wider fruit range, both local and imported, including Harumanis mangoes from Perlis, Turkish cherries, Yemeni pomegranates and the much-loved Musang King. Operating out of Bangi with an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, Syabab Fresh sells fresh durians at competitive rates. Customers can choose from various net weights and reviews consistently praise the durians' creamy texture and authentic orchard-fresh flavour. These are D13-grade durians that are not stored long-term in freezers, ensuring peak freshness. To sweeten the deal, Syabab Fresh provides a guaranteed replacement policy for damaged goods and offers nationwide delivery across Peninsular Malaysia.
