Sinking of old Malaysian navy vessel raises questions on defence underfunding

Fast attack vessel KD Pendekar sank in August after a navigational error put it on a collision course with a reef while it was out on a routine patrol off the southern Johor state, according to the results of a navy inquiry.

The weakness of the ageing vessel’s hull accelerated the spread of flooding to other compartments, the navy’s statement on October 28 said. All 39 crew members were rescued by a passing merchant ship, but one navy diver died during an operation to recover the vessel.

“Malaysia was once considered a regional leader in defence capabilities, often standing ahead of many Asean counterparts,” said Ramli Dollah, a defence expert from the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. “However, it is now perceived as lagging behind other countries in the region.”

Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin in October told parliament that a total of 171 military assets had been in service for over 30 years now, including most of the navy’s fleet and helicopters commissioned in the 1960s.

The government’s auditor-general released a report in July that found that half of the navy’s 49 ships were operating well beyond their serviceable lifespan.