KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) is evaluating proposals from several countries for its Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) programme under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy Ithnain said the evaluation and validation process is currently underway before a decision on the procurement is made.
“We have received proposals and are now carrying out the evaluation and validation process.
“After that, we will call in the relevant parties before making a final decision,” he told reporters after attending the 53rd anniversary celebration of the Combattante Squadron at the Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur on Thursday (July 2).
Zulhelmy said the preferred procurement method is through a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement, similar to the approach adopted for the Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch 2 programme.
He said the TLDM requires three MRSS vessels under its 15-to-5 Transformation Programme.
However, he said the initial procurement is expected to involve two vessels, while the third is planned to be built locally.
"What we are requesting now is two vessels, but under the 15-to-5 plan, we require three, and the third vessel must be capable of being built in Malaysia," he said.
