Wednesday November 15, 2006

Work on submarine base to start soon

KOTA KINABALU: Work on the RM350mil submarine base at Sepanggar Bay is expected to begin early next year.

The navy’s Region II Commanding Officer for Sabah and Sarawak Laksamana Muda Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin said the base would include a training centre and quarters for personnel, among other facilities.

“We expect work to be completed in two years, in time for the arrival of the submarines,” he told reporters after witnessing various naval manoeuvres under the Wira Laut Tinur exercise here yesterday.

COVERT OP: The Malaysian Navy’s elite commando squad Paskal descending into a ‘hot zone’ during a special training exercise codenamed Wira Laut Timur.

Ahmad Kamarulzaman said the Navy’s move to upgrade its bases in Sabah and Sarawak was to further strengthen sea defences in the two states.

The Navy also planned to build another base in Sijingkat in Kuching under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, he said.

He said the Navy also received allocations to upgrade its elite sea commanders – the Paskal teams stationed at Sepanggar bay and Semporna base.

“We will acquire new weapons for the Navy,” he said.

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