CB204: Combat boat went missing due to bad weather, technical problems

A preliminary report on the investigation into the combat boat CB204 which went missing for over 30 hours off Pulau Mengalum, Sabah shows that it was due to bad weather and technical problems.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said bad weather, rough seas and technical problems were identified as causes of the incident.

"The preliminary report evolves on the weather, the rough seas and technical problems," he told reporters in parliament lobby here, today.

CB204 with a crew of seven sailed from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Base in Kota Kinabalu at 5am on Sunday for duty in Gugusan Semarang Peninjau lost radio communication with the escort vessel KD Paus at 11.15 am.

However, CB204 was found on Monday afternoon and was towed back to the RMN Base in Kota Kinabalu by KD Ganas at 10pm and arrived at 12:50pm yesterday.

Hishammuddin said RMN Chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar had informed him that a board of inquiry had been formed to investigate the incident.

The formation of the board of inquiry was to identify causes of the incident and weaknesses.

He expressed his gratitude that the combat boat and all seven crew members were found safe.

"Thank you and congratulations to all parties involved in saving our RMN personnel," he said.