Duty comes first for frigate crew

KUANTAN: Fasting and celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri aboard the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) 2,270-tonne frigate KD Lekiu come as second nature for its 146 crew members.

For three personnel of KD Lekiu, it is part and parcel of their duty and responsibility to uphold peace and security during Ramadan and Aidilfitri.

For Lieutenant Syazrie Abdul Rahman, 30, his family’s acceptance of his duty helps him to carry out his responsibility as an underwater warfare officer aboard the 106m-long frigate during Ramadan.

“My family is used to my line of work,” said the married father of two daughters, who has been with RMN for 10 years.

This Ramadan aboard the KD Lekiu is the third time he is performing his religious obligation while on duty.

Syazrie, from Selangor, said fasting aboard a frigate posed its own challenges because of sea conditions and the hot weather.

“One works under the hot sun and strong waves (which rock the frigate).

“Fasting at sea is different compared with on land.

“However, this is part of our duty to the nation.”

For Communication Leading Rate (Laskar Kanan Komunikasi) Faisal Mohd Rosli, fighting off sea sickness while fasting was among the things one faced when fasting at sea.

The 29-year-old from Sungai Siput, Perak, said he had to let his wife, Norain Jamal, 27, know earlier to make Hari Raya preparations in the event he had to sail with KD Lekiu.

Admitting that he missed his wife, he said things were made easier as his colleagues prepared their own Ramadan and Hari Raya festivities aboard KD Lekiu.

“We still enjoy festive delicacies like ayam masak merah and lemang.”

It was more uplifting though for Second Seaman (Laskar Kelas 2) Mohd Syakeer Mohd Farid, 22, who was celebrating Hari Raya for the first time aboard KD Lekiu.

He said it was an opportunity to gain new experience.

“As soon as I received the order to sail, which meant not being able to balik kampung, I contacted my parents, who understood and accepted it as part of my line of work,” said the 22-year-old from Kulim, Kedah.

All three were speaking when the frigate berthed 18km off the shores of Tanjung Gelang here recently.