LOWER DEFENCE BUDGET EXPECTED FOR NEXT YEAR

PORT KLANG (Malaysia), Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid
Hamidi said the defence expenditure for next year was expected to be lower than
this year because of the country's economic situation.

Despite the drop in the defence budget, the ministry would continue to make
replacement purchases, he told reporters at the ceremony to welcome the arrival
of Malaysia's first submarine, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman (KD TAR), at the KD Sultan
Abdul Aziz jetty, here, Thursday.

On the government's purchase of two Scorpene submarines, he said, it was a
wish fullfilled for the Malaysian armed forces which had suggested the idea of
acquiring the assets 25 years ago.

Ahmad Zahid said the purchase of the submarines had been discussed since
the Fifth Malaysia Plan and was only realised at the end of the Ninth Malaysia
Plan.

The important thing was that the purchase of these submarines complemented
the country's defence requirements, he added.

He congratulated the Royal Malaysian Navy for its success in acquiring the
submarine and its crew who underwent a four year training in France.

He said KD TAR would not only boost RMN's presence in the South China Sea,
but also the Indian Ocean, adding that the submarine would also be used in joint
military exercise with neighbouring countries.

RMN Commander Admiral Abdul Aziz Jaafar said the submarine would arrive at
its base in Teluk Sepanggar, Kota Kinabalu in East Malaysia state of Sabah on
Sept 17.
-- BERNAMA