Kasturi Class SLEP Going Well

Slowly our Navy's Strike Flotilla are being beefed up at a reasonable cost despite what some may claim, and we can look forward to a credible force that can give anyone a bloody nose if they so dare threaten our independence. KD Kasturi is expected to be ready in October 2012 while KD Lekir will start her SLEP in August 2011.

Credit to Mcwood/Milphotos

PROGRAMME TO REDUCE ESPENDING, SAYS ZAHID

Bernama - Tuesday, February 15

LUMUT, Feb 14 — The Service Life Extension Programme or SLEP for Royal Malaysian Navy ships is expected to reduce defence spending sharply.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that SLEP — which was for refurbishing ships of 30 years old or more and equipping them with sophisticated armament and other systems — could save the government a lot of money.

“The programme can reduce spending by up to 75 per cent if we do not have to buy new ships to replace existing assets,” he told reporters here today after observing refurbishing work on KD Kasturi.

SLEP was being carried out by Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd, whose bid was 50 per cent lower than the next lowest, he said.

For a start, Ahmad Zahid said, two ships — KD Kasturi and KD Lekir — were being refurbished at a cost of about RM695 million.

“What makes us so proud about this programme is that it is using up to 99.5 per cent local expertise... and the level of local expertise and quality of service are on par with what is offered at foreign shipyards,” he said.

Note : Can't find the English version on Bernama site, but the Malay version is more informative anyway.