Malaysian naval attack ship sinks after hitting an unknown object.

A Malaysian naval fast attack ship, the KD Pendekar, sank off the coast of Johor state after striking an unknown underwater object. The 45-year-old vessel, which weighed 260 tons, began taking on water on Sunday when a leak was detected in its engine room. Despite efforts by the crew to patch the hole, the situation quickly deteriorated, leading to the vessel’s sinking. Fortunately, all 39 crew members were safely evacuated with no reported injuries.

The KD Pendekar, commissioned into the Malaysian Navy in 1979, was built by the Karlskrona Varvet Shipyard in Sweden. The incident has raised concerns about the aging fleet of the Royal Malaysian Navy, particularly given that a significant portion of its ships are over 40 years old. In response to the sinking, Malaysia’s Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin ordered an inspection of all naval vessels over four decades old. He acknowledged that while the fleet modernization is in progress, the age of the ships might not be the sole cause of the incident.

Salvage operations are currently underway to recover the KD Pendekar, and an investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the incident. The Navy’s statement indicated that the leak is likely due to the ship colliding with an underwater object, although the specifics remain unclear. The investigation will focus on identifying the underwater hazard and assessing whether the ship’s age contributed to the sinking.

The KD Pendekar’s sinking highlights the broader challenges facing the Royal Malaysian Navy as it grapples with maintaining an aging fleet while pursuing modernization efforts. The Navy is in the process of constructing new littoral combat ships, with the first expected to be commissioned in 2026. Additionally, the Ministry of Defense is negotiating the purchase of littoral mission ships from Turkiye as part of its efforts to upgrade its maritime capabilities.

This incident underscores the urgent need for fleet renewal and modernization to ensure the safety and effectiveness of Malaysia’s naval forces. As the investigation continues, the Royal Malaysian Navy will need to address both the immediate and long-term challenges posed by its aging vessels to prevent similar incidents in the future.