RMN chief: Ship can serve as sea basing platform

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy ( RMN) auxiliary ship, Bunga Mas 5 (BM 5) can be used as a sea basing platform in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone ( ESSZone).

RMN chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said this was due to the capability of BM 5 which he described as mobile, effective and easy to handle.

“BM 5 can be tasked as a platform for stationing RMN assets for interceptive action.

“There is a helicopter on BM 5 which can act as a force multiplier, provide greater distant control, wider surveillance and faster interception,” he told reporters after receiving a courtesy call from US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Harry B Harris JR here yesterday.

Nevertheless, he agreed with the decision of the government to station disused oil rigs as observation platforms in the long term.

Abdul Aziz said the oil rigs would have intercepting boats and personnel for surveillance and boat handling duties.

Prior to this, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein had said sea basing was the stationing of military assets in the middle of the sea, capable of providing quick responses when tackling intrusions in the waters off Sabah.

Petronas had also previously given its commitment to provide oil rigs with the implementation of the system. — Bernama