KD Perdana lost contact because of failure to stick to SOP - RMN chief

Failure on the part of the commanding officer (CO) to observe standard operating procedures (SOP) has been determined as the cause why a patrol boat belonging to Royal Malaysian Navy vessel KD Perdana lost contact with the mothership while chasing away foreign fishing boats in Sedilie waters on May 20.

RMN chief Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin said the probe into the incident found that the CO of the ship faiied to follow the SOP, and should have ensured that the patrol boat was under his supervision even when it (patrol boat) carrying out operations to chase away foreign fishing boats from Malaysian waters.

"The existing SOP were very clear and should have been followed. The investigation found the CO was overwhelmed by the number of foreign fishing boats in the area so much so he lost supervision of the patrol boat which went missing," he told reporters after attending RMN's Innovation Day themed "Innovation is a culture of RMN at Wisma Pertahanan here today.

Ahmad Kamarulzaman said further action on the CO would be determined by the CO of RMN's Maritime Region 1, Rear Admiral Datuk Mohd Redza Mohd Sany.

"For now the CO (of KD Perdana) has been relieved of his command. This (not following SOP) is unacceptable," added the RMN chief.

On May 20, the patrol boat ran out fuel and also it communication equipment malfunctioned, causing it to run adrift.

It was only located by an RMAF spotter craft on May 22, 90 nautical miles east of Kuantan. All its crew survived the ordeal.

At today's event, RMN also signed an integrity pledge and a cooperation agreement with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for good governance in RMN.

Ahmad Kamarulzaman led the pledge of integrity witnessed by MACC deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Datuk Mohd Azam Baki.

-- BERNAMA