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Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has officially commissioned and named its newest Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), KM Bendahara, marking a significant milestone in the agency’s efforts to strengthen maritime security and enforcement capabilities in Sabah and the South China Sea.
The naming ceremony, officiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs Secretary-General Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman, was held here and symbolised the beginning of a new operational phase for one of MMEA’s most strategic maritime assets.
KM Bendahara is the former United States Coast Guard cutter USCGC Steadfast (WMEC-623), acquired under the United States’ Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
Built in 1967, the vessel served the US Coast Guard for more than five decades before being decommissioned in February 2024 and officially transferred to Malaysia in Baltimore on Sept 5 last year.
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