The naming of the first Scorpene submarine ceremony, next week

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak will grace the naming of the first submarine early next week, in Cherbourg, Normandy, France. The first DNCS built submarine will be named KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, after the First Prime Minister and father of independent Malaysia.

Bernama.com has this story:

October 19, 2007 16:19 PM

Najib To Attend The Launch Of Malaysia’s First Submarine In France

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will be attending the launch of Malaysia’s first Scorpene submarine in Cherbourg, France, on Tuesday. The launch is part of the official programme for his four-day visit to France beginning Monday, according to a Wisma Putra statement here. The 1.04 biilion Euro (about RM3.4 million) procurement of two Scorpene submarines was signed in June 2002 between Malaysia, a French shipbuilding, submarine and naval services company, Direction des Constructions Navales Services (DCNS), and Spanish shipbuilder Navantina. Najib, who is also Defence Minister, will also hold a bilateral meeting with his French counterpart, Herve Morin, the statement says. He will deliver a public lecture at Institute Francais des Relations and Internationals and meet author of the Blue Ocean Strategy, Prof W.Chan Kim of Institute Europeen d’Administration des Affaires (Insead). Najib is also expected to meet the Malaysian community in France. Wisma Putra said the visit will further strengthen and deepen the existing bilateral relations and cooperation between Malaysia and France. In another statement, Wisma Putra said Najib will also make a two-day visit to Russia on Oct 21-22 to receive Malaysian astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, whose Soyuz TMA-II spacecraft is scheduled to land on earth on Sunday. He is also scheduled to meet Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov on Monday. – BERNAMA

This ceremony will take place at the Arsenal, Cherbourg Dockyards, Cherbourg, Normandy, France. The Chief of Navy Laksmana Tan Sri Ramlan Mohamed Ali, TLDM, will attend this ceremony, along with senior TLDM officials which include the Defense Attache’ to the Malaysian Embassy in Paris. Laksmana Tan Sri Ramlan is currently in the United States attending a submarine symposium.

A mixture of Air Yassin (holy water) and water from Zam-Zam well, Mecca (Islam’s holiest city) would be used to grace at the naming of the first of two boats in the nation’s first submarine squadron, instead of the traditional practice of using champagne for sea going vessels.

Dato’ Seri Najib Razak will fly off to Paris from Moscow, after witnessing the safe return of Angkasawan Negara. This first submarine was completely joined (with all major components installed) on 15 March 2007, will complete its fitting out and ready for extensive sea trials soon. The delivery of this first Perdana Menteri Class submarine to TLDM is expected in January 2009. The second submarine, which will be named KD Tun Razak and completely joined in July 2007, is now being fitted out at the Navantia Izar docks in Cartagena, Spain and expected to be delivered to TLDM in 2010.

Tun Abdul Razak is the second Prime Minister and father of DPM Dato’ Seri Najib Razak.

At the moment, 140 odd officers and men are being extensively trained by the French Navy elite submarine traning school (NAVFCO) in Brest, Britanny, France using a dedicated Agosta Class training submarine, “Ouessant”. The designated COs for the two submarines, Lt. Cdr. Zulhelmi Isnin, TLDM and Lt. Cdr. Baharuddin Md. Nor, TLDM, are the two most experienced and highly dedicated submariners in TLDM today.

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