Sepanggar training centre one of the best in world: Navy
Published on: Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The Royal Malaysian Navy Submarine Training Centre (PLKS) here is one of the best training centres for Scorpene submarines in the world, said Navy Chief, Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar.He said the centre has received world class recognition for operating Scorpene submarines as it is fully equipped with facilities and training modules."The PLKS, which has been training navy trainees to become qualified submariners since 2010, has complete facilities and equipment needed to train submariners in various expertise.ADVERTISEMENT "Apart from having SIMDIVE (Diving Simulator) and SIMTAC (Tactical Simulator), the centre is also built with Safety Conditioning Facilities (SCF) namely the submarine escape training tower and two simulators for fire and flooding situations," he said.Abdul Aziz said this in his speech during a ceremony to pin 'dolphin badges' on 30 qualified submariners who have been trained locally at the PLKS here over three intakes, held at Royal Malaysian Navy Submarine Base here on Tuesday. He also witnessed the handing over of duty by outgoing Naval Region 2 Commander for Sabah and Sarawak Rear Admiral Dato' Pahlawan Rosland bin Omar to Rear Admiral Datuk Khairul Anwar bin Yahya.Khairul, 55, has had vast experiences in the military field for 37 years and his last post was as Assistant Chief of Staff of J7 Joint Force Command Kuala Lumpur under the Ministry of Defense. He will focus on addressing threats from illegal immigrants involving military surveillance at the coastal waters of the nation.Also present were Navy Submarine Force Commander, Rear Admiral Abdul Rahman Ayob and Navy Fleet Commander Admiral Dato' Mohamad Roslan bin Mohamad Ramli.ADVERTISEMENT According to Abdul Aziz, the PLKS has trained a total of 156 submariners, including the 30 submariners, in the country and that a submariner needs to undergo two years' training including classroom training for theories, basic submarine course, training the SIMDIVE and SIMTAC and on-the-job training for nine months.He said the submariners are being trained locally by Malaysian instructors in cooperation with NAVFCO.
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It was learnt that NAVFCO is a naval component of Defense Conseil International (DCI), a French label for defense training, consulting and support, to train submariners in non-NATO countries."Our PLKS for the country that is based here has proven Malaysian capabilities to master tactical warfare underwater involving modern and high tech equipment and facilities. "In addition, training our own submariners here locally has also saved a lot of costs as we do not have to train them overseas because about 1 million Euros is spent for a trainee to undergo complete submarine training in overseas."Hence, having the PLKS here has reduced government spending by half. Prior to this establishment, our trainees were sent to Turkey, Pakistan, Australia, Sweden and Germany, and the intensive training for the Scorpene submarine in the French Navy to become qualified submariners," Abdul Aziz said.In fact, he said RMN has received several applications from other countries for their navy trainees to undergo the Scorpene submarine training here. However, Abdul Aziz said they have yet to accept these applications. He also called on all the submariners including the 30 to increase their level of expertise and competencies so as always to be ahead of other foreign navies in all aspects.He warned them not to be complacent and careless in discharging their duties and responsibilities especially under the current uncertain global security and threats that come in many forms.During a press conference, Abdul Aziz said all the 156 submariners have gone through all required training as well as the required 1,000 hours a submariner must have in order to operate the two Scorpene submarines– KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak, here.Hence, he said these requirements including the 1,000 hours have dispelled rumours that Malaysia's Scorpene submarines could not dive.To a question, he said the 156 submarines in the country are sufficient. However, he said the navy needs about five sets of crew equivalent to 175 submariners with a crew comprising 35 submariners and that one and a half crew is needed to operate one submarine.Meanwhile, one of the 30 submariners, Lt. Commander Abdul Muadz bin Isa told reporters that getting the badge and officially being recognised as a submariner was a proud moment for him and other 29 submariners.He said he waited about four years to get the badge as he was among the first batch of trainees to undergo the Scorpene submarine training at PLKS here in 2010.Muadz whose designated post is 'Officer of the Watch or communication officer in KD Tunku Abdul Rahman said there is no truth to rumour that Malaysian submarines could not dive.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"In producing new submariners, the submarines need to be sailed out and dive as part of our training modules to be qualified submariners."In fact the submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman has been operating and diving from Kota Kinabalu to its base here in Sepanggar. So it is not true that our submarines could not be operated nor dive," he said.