Malaysia may buy three multi support ships

Malaysian Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said the company or country that agreed to transfer technology, experience and provide training to the Royal Malaysian Navy(RMN) would be given priority for buying three 'Multi Support Ships'. He said the procurement of the vessels would be done via open tender to "friendly" nations under the 10th Malaysian Plan right up to the 12th Malaysian Plan. "The RMN will send a group of officers to make an evaluation to determine the design and size of the vessel so that it is suitable for use by the navy. "Besides that the 'friendly' nation will be given a contract to build one of the three vessels here to allow for transfer of technology," Ahmad Zahid told reporters aboard the RMN frigate KD Lekui at Awana Porto Malai here today. "We will take the oppoutunity to learn about the capabilities of the Multi Role Ship (MRS) from Korea and a Singaporean battleship equipped with sophisticated missiles," he said. He said the the three MSSs' were to replace one of its two multiple purpose ships that was destroyed in Lumut, Perak recently.