Selangor sultan advises Mat Sabu on Navy assets
SHAH ALAM: The Defence Ministry will focus on maritime preparedness by empowering the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) to safeguard sovereignty.
Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said this was one of the issues discussed during his audience with Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who is RMN captain-in-chief, at Istana Bukit Kayangan here yesterday.
Mohamad said RMN’s role was crucial as Malaysia had a large swathe of maritime territory between Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula.
“(RMN) must be enhanced and strengthened because the country’s revenue is also gained offshore at (for example) oil rigs in the South China Sea.
“The South China Sea becomes (a place for a) power struggle. Malaysia must play a role and always be prepared, not for war, but for guarding and protecting the country’s sovereignty,” he said after an inaugural audience with the sultan.
Present was RMN chief Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin.
In the one-hour meeting, Mohamad said Sultan Sharafuddin advised him about naval equipment.
He said the sultan decreed that the equipment must be able and in a state of preparedness at all times.
“The procurement of equipment must be in line with the needs of RMN and be of international standards.”
He said Malaysia would continue to defend the concept of “Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality” (Zopfan).
“The concept of Zopfan must be emphasised for Malaysia to be neutral.”