According to RMN, KD Pendekar sank at 15:54 off the coast of Johor, two nautical miles southeast of Tanjung Penyusop, after a suspected collision with an underwater object at around 12:00 caused a leak that was first noticed in the speedboat’s engine room. Damage control attempts to stop the resulting flooding failed, after which the order was given to abandon ship. None of the crew members were injured in the incident.

The RMN thanked nearby vessels, the Royal Malaysian Police and the Malaysian Coast Guard for their successful rescue of the crew, who have since been brought ashore to the KD. Sultan Ismail in Pengerang, Johor. After the speedboat sank, naval units were dispatched to the site to monitor the sinking.

In an earlier statement to the KD Pendekar sank, the RMN said it would set up a special commission of inquiry to investigate the incident, with the salvage of the speedboat as a priority. No comment was made on how the sinking would affect plans to salvage the KD. PendikaR.

On Monday, Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin downplayed whether the age of the 45-year-old speedboat could have been a factor, saying: reporter “We do not deny that some of our ships are too old, but that may not be the reason. The reason, as mentioned, is probably that the leak is caused by the ship hitting an underwater object, and we are investigating this.”

The Defense Minister added that there are 10 to 15 other RMN ships that are over 40 years old and that these will be inspected after the KD to ensure that they are in good condition. Pendekarit is sinking.

KD Pendekar1979–2024

The KD Pendekar was one of four Handalan-class fast boats in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy and was commissioned in 1979. All four ships of the Handalan class were built by the Swedish shipyard Kalskrona (which is still operated under Saab Kockums today) and are a modified version of the Norrkoping-class fast attack boat design, powered by diesel engines and equipped with Exocet anti-ship missiles and a single 57 mm Bofors cannon as main armament.

Accordingly Malaysian Defensethe KD Pendekar and its sister ship KD Gempita In early 2023, it was equipped with a new combat management system that enables long-range firing of the 57mm Bofors.

Another Handalan class, the KD Perkasawas the first ship of the Royal Malaysian Navy to complete the obsolescence program. She will be delivered in May 2023 after a complete hull and propulsion system replacement.