RMN SEPANGGAR BASE TO HOUSE MSIA'S FIRST SUBMARINE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's first Scorpene submarine, KD
Tunku Abdul Rahman, which is expected to arrive in Malaysia from Toulon, France,
will be placed at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base in Sepanggar, Sabah (East
Malaysia).

RMN chief, Admiral Abdul Aziz Jaafar said the submarine crew
were undergoing training in Toulon and would sail home at the end of May.

"Everything is running smoothly as planned. In fact, the RMN base in
Sepanggar is expected to be completed to house the submarine by June.

"With the submarine in place, we hope to promote Malaysia's name to the
world and to safeguard the national waters from enemy threats," he told
reporters after presenting the prizes to the winners of the design competition
for the official emblems of the RMN submarines.

He said the development was in line with RMN's responsibiliy of safeguarding
the national waters, including the Exclusive Economic Zone, at all times.

Abdul Aziz said the RMN had proposed to the government to open the
facilities at the Sepanggar base to be used by other countries.

"The Defence Ministry has discussed the matter with the government and it
was agreed that other countries could use the facilities at the base as long as
it was for mutual benefit," he said.

The Scorpene submarine, designed and built by the French firm DCNS and
Spain's Navantia, has a submerge depth of up to 200m.

It is also equipped with six torpedo tubes which can launch simultaneously
as well as anti-ship and anti-submarine torpedoes and anti-surface missiles.

The diesel-electric attack submarine has a submerge speed of over 20knots
and is capable of carrying 10 torpedoes and 30 mines with fully-automated
handling and loading of weapons.

The second submarine, named KD Tun Razak, in recognition of Malaysia's
second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, is expected to arrive at the year
end.



Meanwhile, Tourism Malaysia' graphic designer Rosli Hassan bagged cash of
RM2,500 when his design won the main prize in the competition. There were two
consolation prize winners.

The contest saw 121 entries, comprising 61 for KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and 60
for KD Tun Razak.

-- BERNAMA