00:00Experts have raised concerns over Malaysia's continued use of old Navy vessels.
00:07Maritime affairs and law expert Salawati Madhbasir called maintaining 40-year-old ships impractical,
00:13especially when countries like Indonesia already have modern fleets.
00:17She said as a maritime country, Malaysia needs the latest technology and ships for safety and operational efficiency.
00:24Salawati's comments followed the sinking of the 45-year-old KV Pendekar,
00:28which leaked after hitting an underwater object.
00:31In response, Defense Minister Khaled Nordin announced inspections of all Navy vessels over 40 years old,
00:37adding that one-third of the fleet falls into this category.
00:40However, he said age wasn't the primary cause of the incident.
00:44Meanwhile, defense expert Mizan Aslam warned that operating Navy vessels beyond their 25-year lifespan is unsafe,
00:51noting that 10 to 15 vessels in the fleet are over 40 years old and require thorough inspections.
00:57He said Malaysia should consider leasing maritime assets from allied countries like Turkey, China,
01:02Russia and European nations to maintain its naval capabilities.
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