Malaysian authorities are currently engaged in salvage operations to retrieve a 45-year-old fast attack naval ship, the KD Pendekar, which sank after colliding with an unidentified underwater object. The incident occurred off the coast of southern Johor state, resulting in a leak being detected in the engine room of the vessel on Sunday. Despite efforts by the crew to address the breach, the ship succumbed to flooding and submerged hours later. Fortunately, all 39 crew members were safely evacuated with no reported injuries.
An official statement from the navy indicated that the leak was likely caused by the ship striking the underwater object. As a result, investigations have been initiated to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the sinking. In response to the incident, Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin has ordered an inspection of navy vessels aged over 40 years, which constitute a significant portion of the country's fleet.
The KD Pendekar, constructed by Karlskrona Varvet Shipyard in Sweden and commissioned into the Malaysian fleet in 1979, is among the older vessels in service. Minister Khaled emphasized that while the age of the ships is a factor, it is not believed to be a primary cause of the sinking. He expressed gratitude that there was no loss of life in the incident.
To address concerns about the aging fleet, Malaysia is actively pursuing a fleet modernization program. This initiative includes the construction of littoral combat ships, with the first vessel expected to be operational by 2026. Additionally, negotiations are underway to procure littoral mission ships from Turkiye, as part of the country's efforts to enhance its naval capabilities.
