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PC Sri Sarawak Ready for Duty

PC Sri Sarawak making her way into Kuantan RMN base. RMN.

SHAH ALAM: PC Sri Sarawak – pennant number 48 – has completed its OP Plus work and now it is ready to be re-commissioned into the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN). RMN regional headquarters 1 – Mawilla 1 – posted on its social media page that the patrol boat had arrived its base at the Kuantan port on January 14.


PC Sri Sarawak entering the Kuantan RMN base on January 14. RMN

Sri Sarawak joined her sister ship, PC Sri Sabah – pennant number 46 – which had also undergone the same reincarnation at MSET Shipyard in Kuala Terengganu. Sri Sabah berthed at Kuantan RMN base two months ago.
PC Sri Sarawak preparing to berth next PC Sri Sabah. RMN.

Once recommissioned both boats are to be based at Sandakan RMN base – the regional headquarters 2 or Mawilla 2.

Originally, both were supposed to be in Sandakan by mid-2022 but its better late than never. From the pictures, Sri Sabah certainly looked like KD Sri Perlis and KD Sri Johor which had undergone the OP Plus work in Sabah.

PC Sri Sarawak safely berthed next to PC Sri Sabah at the Kuantan RMN base.

It is interesting to note that RMN is still clinging to the notion that the work on Sri Sabah and Sri Sabah was a routine refit work. It was in fact a rebirth programme for both. Both patrol boats had been divested to the MMEA in 2005 and was supposed to be retired by 2020. They would have been artificial reefs by now if not for the fact that RMN needs hulls without breaking the bank.

Hence the work to put back both patrol boats into RMN service.

It is also interesting to note that RMN held a gathering for the survivors of KD Sri Perak on January 14 to mark the 40th anniversary of her sinking. Sri Perak – the sister ships of both Sri Sabah and Sri Sarawak – in their original service with RMN – sank on January 8, 1984.
A book on the sinking was also launched but there is no mentioned whether the book is available to the public.

Admiral TS Rahman Ayob at the KD Sri Perak gathering and the launch of the book. He was one of the survivors of the sinking. RMN.

Sixteen crew members of Sri Perak were present at the ceremony. Twenty six out of the 29 crew survived the sinking which occurred in the South China Sea. RMN chief Admiral Rahman Ayob is the last crew member of Sri Perak to remain in service. He was a senior cadet officer during the incident.

— Malaysian Defence

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Marhalim Abas: Shah Alam

View Comments (8)

  • Observation :

    looks like there are 3x Handalan-class boats (including 3512 KD Perkasa with OP done), 1x Perdana-class boat (hidden behind one of the handalans), 2x Kedah-class OPV (172 KD Pahang & 174 KD Terengganu), 3x FIC G2000 Mk1, and a white ex-apmm? boat tied alongside the FIC G2000 in the last picture.

    Interesting to note the the differences in hull shape of 3512 KD Perkasa and sistership 3513 KD Pendekar. It can also be seen the 40mm bofors still mounted in the stern of the KD Perkasa.

    History Of KD Sri Sabah and KD Sri Sarawak

    KD Sundang – P36
    launched 22/05/1966
    commissioned November 1966
    Passed to APMM 2006
    KM Segantang – 3133
    retired APMM 2018
    passed APMM back to TLDM 10/06/2020
    OP Progran Start - ??? (MSET Shipyard Terengganu)
    accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 23/10/2023
    Renamed KD Sri Sabah – 46

    KD Panah – P42
    launched 10/10/1966
    commissioned July 1967
    Passed to APMM 2006
    KM Kukup – 3135
    retired APMM 2018
    passed APMM back to TLDM 10/06/2020
    OP Progran Start - ??? (MSET Shipyard terengganu)
    accepted back to TLDM after OP program – ???
    Renamed KD Sri Sarawak – 48

    Original KD Sri Sabah – P3144
    launched 30/12/1963
    commissioned September 1964
    Passed to APMM 2006
    KM Labas – 3137
    retired APMM 2018 – scrapped

    Original KD Sri Sarawak – P3145
    launched 20/01/1964
    commissioned September 1964
    Passed to APMM 2006
    KM Sipadan – 3131
    retired APMM 2018 – sunk artificial reef off Pulau Tioman

    KD Sri Perlis – P47
    launched 26/05/1967
    commissioned 28/01/1968
    OP program start 11/08/2020 (Preston shipyard)
    accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 24/09/2021

    KD Sri Johor – P49
    launched 21/08/1967
    commissioned 14/02/1968
    OP program start – 31/10/2022 (Preston shipyard)
    accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 23/07/2023

  • If the navy can make do with refurbished old ships, why don't they go the same route for the LMSb2?

    • As the old ships they refurbished, they know a lot about it. The old ships available out there do not have anything in common with ships operated by RMN.

  • BTW a normal refit work does not involve a change of identity for KD Sri Sarawak (which is actually KD Panah and not the original KD Sri Sarawak) and KD Sri Sabah (which is actually KD Sundang and not the original KD Sri Sabah)

  • The RMN is laying up a lot of ships due to no sailors n officers to man them. Just buy a few n get by until pur asset s are stabilised

    • No, they are not laying any ships at the moment, as they do not have enough ships. They had done this a few years back around 2015 to 2017 as they moved to the 15-to-5 programme. Now every ship has returned to the fleet apart those under refit or maintenance of course.

  • Updated infornation :

    http://www.mset.com.my/MSET/assets/split/2023Vol3.png

    History Of KD Sri Sabah and KD Sri Sarawak

    KD Sundang – P36
    launched 22/05/1966
    commissioned November 1966
    Passed to APMM 2006
    KM Segantang – 3133
    retired APMM 2018
    passed APMM back to TLDM 10/06/2020
    OP Progran Start – ??? (MSET Shipyard Terengganu)
    accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 23/10/2023
    Renamed KD Sri Sabah – 46

    KD Panah – P42
    launched 10/10/1966
    commissioned July 1967
    Passed to APMM 2006
    KM Kukup – 3135
    retired APMM 2018
    passed APMM back to TLDM 10/06/2020
    OP Progran Start – ??? (MSET Shipyard terengganu)
    accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 07/12/2023
    Renamed KD Sri Sarawak – 48

    Original KD Sri Sabah – P3144
    launched 30/12/1963
    commissioned September 1964
    Passed to APMM 2006
    KM Labas – 3137
    retired APMM 2018 – scrapped

    Original KD Sri Sarawak – P3145
    launched 20/01/1964
    commissioned September 1964
    Passed to APMM 2006
    KM Sipadan – 3131
    retired APMM 2018 – sunk artificial reef off Pulau Tioman

    KD Sri Perlis – P47
    launched 26/05/1967
    commissioned 28/01/1968
    OP program start 11/08/2020 (Preston shipyard)
    accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 24/09/2021

    KD Sri Johor – P49
    launched 21/08/1967
    commissioned 14/02/1968
    OP program start – 31/10/2022 (Preston shipyard)
    accepted back to TLDM after OP program – 23/07/2023

  • It's rather weird seeing a security organisation first law enforcement second desperately float as many old ship as possible while the law enforcement organisation first just turn their old ship into artificial reef