SHAH ALAM: Back in 2010, Utusan Malaysia reported that the then Prime Minister DS Najib Razak was set to officiate a new shipyard in Bagan Datuk, Perak. The shipyard was supposed to be the site to built the three Multi-Purpose Support Ship (MPSS), the name for the class of ships which is now known as the Multi-Role Support Ship.
Unfortunately, the Utusan story is no longer accessible following the closure of the company several years back. The Malaysian Defence post on that shipyard:


NGV Tech Sdn Bhd, is the preferred local partner for the MPSS project and since it had already signed an MOU to purchase a shipyard in South Korea (during Lima 2009), one can surmised that a baby Dokdo would probably be the chosen design.
Of course, the shipyard project died a natural death when NGV Tech went bust several years later. The collapsed also led to the prolonged delay on the two training ships built for the RMN.
Why am I bringing the Bagan Datuk shipyard story today? Deputy Prime Minister DS Ahmad Zahid Hamidi just announced the setting up of the Bagan Datuk New Maritime Zone. He did not say a shipyard is being built but with the MRSS project being said to be included in RMK13 funding, one wonders whether that it is the goal. Zahid was the Defence Minister when the Bagan Datuk shipyard was mooted 15 years ago, and he remained the MP there.


The post by the DPM:
𝐊𝐞𝐫𝐣𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐊𝐋 𝐌𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐓, 𝐇𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐢 & 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐤 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐩: 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐮 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦
Seterusnya, saya mempengerusikan sesi pembentangan khas Cadangan Zon Ekonomi Baharu (Maritim) Bagan Datuk, yang merupakan satu langkah strategik untuk memperkasa industri maritim negara dan melonjakkan keupayaan sektor ini ke tahap lebih tinggi.
Perbincangan ini adalah kesinambungan daripada sesi sebelum ini, di mana kami meneliti secara mendalam cadangan pembangunan Pusat Kecemerlangan Teknologi Pembuatan Kapal serta peranan penting UniKL MIMET, Green Tact Solutions-Hyundai, dan Perak Corporation Berhad dalam menjayakan inisiatif ini.
Bagi memastikan kelancaran dan keberkesanan pelaksanaan, sebuah taskforce khas turut diwujudkan untuk memantau perkembangan projek ini serta memastikan setiap langkah diambil selaras dengan hala tuju strategik yang telah ditetapkan.
Saya yakin, dengan perancangan yang rapi, kerjasama erat antara industri dan akademik, serta pemantauan yang sistematik, Bagan Datuk bakal muncul sebagai hab maritim baharu yang akan membawa manfaat besar kepada ekonomi negara dan masyarakat setempat. Insya-Allah.
It must be said that Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) is expected to be among the shipbuilders looking to secure the MRSS contract, said to be three vessels, two in RMK13 and one more in RMK14.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (101)
The plan is actually for 2 in RMK13 2026-2030, and another one in RMK15 2036-2040
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GlQLZrxWIAE516T.jpg
With such a ship to cost somewhere around USD408 million each (UAE Navy contract to PT PAL), I would prefer the budget to be used for additional Scorpenes instead.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GmZDvvhaUAAjR7M?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
"I would prefer the budget to be used for additional Scorpenes instead."
Not this again
... - "I would prefer the budget to be used for additional Scorpenes instead"
No doubt you would and every mother's son and his dog is keenly aware but one can make the case that we already have a pair of subs and that the Saktis are in need of replacement. Your preference also assumes that we'll be in a position where we'll need the subs more than the MPSSs.
Or will I hear the "you think a pair of subs is enough" tune yet again? Or are you speaking on "behalf" of the RMN again or perhaps I don't understand the value of subs?
NO!NO!NO! Please don't let it happen. Big tonnage shipbuilding in Malaysia is cursed. When it involved politicians it will be a disaster. We should learn from past mistakes.
If Hyundai its possible the mini Dokdo will be revived but I do question how viable it is to shrink it down. Going downsizing from 199mtr to 120mtr (dock size of Mawilla 4) is no joke and not like they can lop off the front & rear portions easily to fit.
Then again, Makassar design actually originates from SK (DaeSun Shipbuilding) so its possible a Makassar derivative will be selected but from original SK shipyard.
SK Daesun, its not Hyundai.
With such a ship to cost somewhere around USD408 million each (UAE Navy contract to PT PAL), I would prefer the budget to be used for additional Scorpenes instead.(Hulubalang)
Am in agreement of extra submarines but not necessarily Scorpenes.
" Or will I hear the “you think a pair of subs is enough” tune yet again? Or are you speaking on “behalf” of the RMN again or perhaps I don’t understand the value of subs? "
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GlQLZrxWIAE516T.jpg
TLDM original requirement is for 4x subs
3x MRSS requirement could be covered with less budget with 2x RORO + 2x JHSV/EPF so that the MRSS budget could be used to get the 4x Submarines that we need.
So our option
A) 3x MRSS + 2x SUB
B) 2x RORO + 2x JHSV/EPF + 4x SUB
I prefer option B
" Am in agreement of extra submarines but not necessarily Scorpenes "
Getting something cheaper like the STM500 is tempting, but i prefer the fleet to be monotonous with an all Scorpene fleet for easier operational and sustainment needs. India is going for additional contract of 3x Scorpenes in the near future, and we could probably piggyback that deal.
Taib - "Am in agreement of extra submarines but not necessarily Scorpenes"
Having 2 separate training and support infrastructures to maintain 2 different subs in small numbers is a bad idea.
Abuyane - "When it involved politicians it will be a disaster"
Politicians who prioritise the industry and not the end user, who place hubris above substance and who allocate insufficient funds in line with a system with no checks and balances and corrective mechanisms.
Someone conveniently forget that the scorpene can only dive for 4 days as it is without any AIP nor LiOn battery while being at least 50% more expensive then the Germans or German derived subs that can dive for at least 30 days.
Then conveniently includes the 200% markup on R&D on the Makasar (something subsequently customer won't have to pay if they choose the off the shelf kind) then conveniently excluded the 200% markup (which the first customer who commissions either the Evo,AIP or LiOn battery ) on the scorpene to make his idea seems financial sounds.
Then go around the internet calling the RMN planners as financially incompetent. I mean it's easy to do so when you cook the number beyond what is legal by comparing apple with oranges.