KUCHING: The process to establish a naval base for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) in Bintulu should be expedited to enhance the maritime security of the state.
This was pointed out by the Chief of RMN, Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin during a press conference after the pinning of ‘Pingat Jasa Malaysia’ (PJM) to the state RMN veterans at the Old State Legislative Assembly (DUN) building in Petra Jaya here yesterday.
“We have officers and navy personnel under ‘Markas Pemerintahan Armada Timur’ and it is important for us to have the new base as the state needs the presence of the navy.
“With a new naval base in Bintulu (Markas Wilayah 4), it will enhance the security and we can berth our ships there instead of in Sabah after patrolling the sea,” he said. He added that they were still deciding on the location for the new naval base in Bintulu. “We will meet the Chief Minister as well as the Head of State and forward this matter to them,” said RMN Chief.
Earlier on, Kamarulzaman presented the Pingat Jasa Malaysia to 24 navy veterans from the state as a form of appreciation towards the services that they had rendered to the RMN throughout their years of service.
Soon after, the ‘Admiral On Deck’ programme was conducted to enable the exchange of ideas between the leaders of RMN and its personnel as well as the veterans.
