ID :
89217
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 10:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/89217
The shortlink copeid
NO SUBMARINE RIDE FOR MPs
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- The country's first submarine, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, is attracting curiosity in the Lower House of Parliament, with a backbencher suggesting that members of parliament be allowed to take a ride inside the underwater craft.
The suggestion came from Member of Parliament Mohd Jidin Shafee, saying it
would give them a clearer picture on the purchase of two Scorpene-class
submarines at the price of RM3.4 billion (about US$1 billion).
Addressing the issue Wednesday Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said only
those with high resilience, like the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman crewmen, were able to
endure a ride inside a moving submarine.
"Not everyone can handle the ride," he said when winding up the debate on
the Supplementary Supply Bill 2010 for his ministry.
Ahmad Zahid, however, invited them to the Langkawi International Maritime
and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima '09) on Dec 1-5 to see for themselves the KD
Tunku Abdul Rahman.
"I can try to arrange for MPs to be allowed to enter the submarine but I
cannot promise that they will be taken for an underwater sight-seeing because
it's going to be quite a tough ride," he said.
The Scorpene, a conventional combat submarine that can operate in depths of
100 to 200 metres, is equipped with six torpedo tubes where guided missiles can
be launched simultaneously.
The submarine, with a 20 nautical knot speed, also has anti-aircraft
missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes.
On the issue of armed forces' vehicles being used for activities such as
sports, Ahmad Zahid said sports were part of activities of the armed forces.
He said that the armed forces had declared either Wednesday or Friday
afternoons as a sports day.
-- BERNAMA
The suggestion came from Member of Parliament Mohd Jidin Shafee, saying it
would give them a clearer picture on the purchase of two Scorpene-class
submarines at the price of RM3.4 billion (about US$1 billion).
Addressing the issue Wednesday Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said only
those with high resilience, like the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman crewmen, were able to
endure a ride inside a moving submarine.
"Not everyone can handle the ride," he said when winding up the debate on
the Supplementary Supply Bill 2010 for his ministry.
Ahmad Zahid, however, invited them to the Langkawi International Maritime
and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima '09) on Dec 1-5 to see for themselves the KD
Tunku Abdul Rahman.
"I can try to arrange for MPs to be allowed to enter the submarine but I
cannot promise that they will be taken for an underwater sight-seeing because
it's going to be quite a tough ride," he said.
The Scorpene, a conventional combat submarine that can operate in depths of
100 to 200 metres, is equipped with six torpedo tubes where guided missiles can
be launched simultaneously.
The submarine, with a 20 nautical knot speed, also has anti-aircraft
missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes.
On the issue of armed forces' vehicles being used for activities such as
sports, Ahmad Zahid said sports were part of activities of the armed forces.
He said that the armed forces had declared either Wednesday or Friday
afternoons as a sports day.
-- BERNAMA
