KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- For Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) submarine crews spending two to four weeks beneath the sea, every mission means long periods away from home, working in silence and confined spaces, and demanding strong physical and mental endurance.
KD Tun Razak commanding officer Commander Mu'adz Isa said the main challenge was not merely the long periods spent inside the submarine, but ensuring that every crew member remained professional, competent and focused on their duties despite being far from their families.
With 16 years of experience in the RMN Submarine Force, he said life underwater was different from that on land as the crew had no concept of day and night. Besides having limited privacy, crew members also had to rely on one another.
He said mental strength was crucial as the crew had to make accurate decisions even when tired and under pressure, while discipline and trust in the team were essential.
"Bravery does not mean we are not afraid. It means that we are able to control ourselves and continue to carry out our responsibilities despite being in challenging situations," he said during the Apa Khabar Malaysia programme through the Wira Kita slot produced by Bernama TV here today.
Mu'adz said one situation that could test the crew's composure was equipment failure while the submarine was at the bottom of the sea, particularly the risk of water ingress, which required all personnel to adhere to established procedures and training.
He said the crew was also unable to contact their families while conducting operations as secrecy was inseparable from military duties, with any incidents involving their families channelled through the Submarine Force Headquarters.
"Every time a submariner goes out to sea, there is actually a family on land that makes sacrifices as well," he said.
Commenting on the RMN's submarine assets, he said Malaysia currently operated two Perdana Menteri-class submarines, namely KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak, which arrived in Malaysia on Sept 3, 2009 and July 2, 2010, respectively.
He said both submarines were diesel-electric Scorpene-class vessels acquired through a contract signed in 2002, with the front section built by France and the rear section by Spain.
The first submarine was assembled in France while the second was assembled in Spain before both were deployed to carry out duties in defending the nation's maritime security and sovereignty, he added.
Mu'adz said the submarines' ability to operate silently and remain difficult to detect allowed the assets to conduct surveillance, gather information, detect threats and carry out various operational tasks over long periods.
He said this capability also provided a strategic deterrence element to the nation, particularly as a maritime country with a maritime area nearly twice the size of its land area and situated at the crossroads of vital maritime routes such as the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca.
-- BERNAMA