Malaysian authorities are in the process of salvaging a 45-year-old fast attack naval ship that sank after hitting an unidentified underwater object. The KD Pendekar experienced a leak in its engine room, which led to the vessel flooding and subsequently sinking off the coast of southern Johor state. Despite efforts by the crew to repair the hole, the 260-ton ship went underwater, with all 39 crew members evacuated safely without any injuries.

The navy mentioned that the leak was likely a result of the ship colliding with the underwater object. Salvage operations have been initiated, and an investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident. Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin has mandated an inspection of navy vessels older than 40 years, constituting a significant portion of the country’s fleet. The KD Pendekar, constructed by Karlskrona Varvet Shipyard in Sweden, was added to the Malaysian fleet in 1979.

While acknowledging the age of some of the country’s ships, Minister Khaled emphasized that the aging vessels are not necessarily a primary factor in such incidents. He expressed gratitude that there was no loss of life in this incident. Malaysia is currently in the process of modernizing its fleet, with plans to introduce littoral combat ships, the first of which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2026. Additionally, discussions are underway for the acquisition of littoral missions ships from Turkiye.