LETTERS: LIVING in a submarine and operating a multi-billion-ringgit underwater vessel is no small feat.
The navy commissioned its first submarine, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, in 2009. This year marks its 15th anniversary of service.
The second submarine, KD Tun Razak, named after the second prime minister, was also commissioned in 2009.
It is interesting to note that the present top brass of the navy are submariners.
Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Ayob was part of the submarine development team when the project was initiated.
Deputy navy chief Vice-Admiral Datuk Zulhelmy Ithnain was the first commanding officer of KD Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Life in the navy is already a huge sacrifice, but being a submariner requires a different level of commitment and grit.
So the officers and crew are carefully selected and have to be willing to give up a lot.
Working in a cramped office with no privacy for a long period is not for everyone.
Even in the loo the crew members have to be careful with water usage. Their bath involves using moist towelettes and the Muslim crew perform their ablution with a bottle spray.
The crew also have to live without fresh air for several days or weeks and endure the smell of diesel. They also have to withstand dive pressure and possible explosion shockwaves.
Solid teamwork from the officers and crew is critical. There is a saying among submariners: "It takes all of us to get the submarine to sea but only one of us to sink it."
KD Tunku Abdul Rahman has participated in many exercises, including with foreign submarines, testing the submarine's firepower by launching its missiles and torpedoes.
And yes, our submarine missiles and torpedoes hit and destroyed the targets.
It is difficult to explain the need to obtain multi-billion-ringgit military equipment, especially for a peace-loving country like Malaysia.
However, if ever a volatile situation occurs, it would be too late to buy military equipment for our defence. So having adequate equipment is like having insurance.
Having a submarine in our naval fleet completes and complements our defence posture from the air, surface and sub-surface.
Military analysts have argued that having a small submarine force like ours can show a minimal deterrent to adversaries.
It was reported that the number of foreign submarine operations is rising near Malaysia's maritime domain due to geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea.
Miscalculations by major powers would affect us.
In addition, the possibility of a submarine accident should not be ruled out.
Tactically, the best method to search and detect a submarine is with another submarine. Due to such reasons, the decision to have a submarine force is justified.
Moving towards the navy's 15to5 Transformation Programme, a plan that envisions the future of a sustainable and robust navy, our naval force is planning to add two more submarines.
The procurement plan will begin in 2030, which gives time for the navy to study future requirements and needs of the new submarines.
This may include new sonar technologies, the use of artificial intelligence in submarine operations, suitable and effective weapons systems, applying unmanned underwater vehicles and perhaps to study the effect of climate change on submarine working conditions.
The navy, too, has enough time to prepare for additional crew and training.
May our submariners be fearless in performing their tasks.
AHMAD TAJUDDIN MOHD SAID
Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security,
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times