MALAYSIA IS NOT STARTING A SUBMARINE RACE IN THE REGION

SEREMBAN (Malaysia), Sept 3 (Bernama) -- The ownership of two submarines by Malaysia will not set off a submarines race in the region as neighbouring countries already had them, said a defence analyst.

He said Malaysia's desire to buy submarines had been planned by the Royal
Malaysian Navy since the early 80s but was hindered by financial constraints.

He told Bernama Wednesday that Indonesia had submarines since the 60s,
Singapore now had four and Vietnam had ordered six Kilo-class subs.

"Malaysia is just following current needs," he said referring to arrival of
Malaysia's first submarine, the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, which is expected at the
Pulau Indah jetty of Port Klang near capital city Kuala Lumpur Thursday morning.

According to the analyst, without a submarine in service, the country's navy
will not learn the tactics of taking on an enemy sub.

He said the building of a submarine base at Teluk Sepanggar in East Malaysia
state of Sabah, showed that the submarine would be active in the South China
Sea.

The Straits of Malacca is very congested with shipping traffic and too
shallow for the Scorpene to operate effectively," said the analyst.
-- BERNAMA