Earnest contribution: Mohamed Khaled (third from left) handing a mock cheque to Brigedier Jeneral Datuk Mohamad Suria Mohamad Saad (third from right) during the launch of the ePerkasa SPM programme at Dewan Mahkota, Kem Mahkota, in Kluang, Johor. — Bernama
KLUANG: The salvage operation for the sunken KD Pendekar will be continued by an external company following the death of a Royal Malaysian Navy diver while trying to recover the wreckage.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the Navy will oversee the appointment of the company to manage the salvage of the vessel that sank on Aug 25.
“Efforts to salvage the vessel will be handed over to a company. Normally, such operations will be carried out by private companies.
“During the incident, the Navy divers were conducting early work for the salvage process.
“This include identifying, investigating and ensuring that tools and sensitive information on the vessel do not go missing,” he said after launching the ePerkasa SPM programme at Kem Mahkota here yesterday.
On Aug 28, Navy diver Leading Seaman 1 Arman San Hermansa died during the salvage operation.
KD Pendekar sank in the waters off Tanjung Penyusop, Pengerang in Kota Tinggi after springing a leak, believed to have been caused by hitting an underwater object.
Mohamed Khaled said the postmortem on the vessel’s sinking is expected to be completed in about a month.
