Sarawak's Hero's Name Immortalised, Coastal Combat Ship 3 Sharif Mashor Launched By Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah
LUMUT: The name of a Sarawakian hero who once rose to defend the dignity of the nation and homeland is now immortalised at sea when Coastal Combat Ship 3 named Sharif Mashor was officially launched today, marking the continuity between the history of past struggles and the country's modern defence strength.
The historic moment in the country's defence industry took place at the Lumut Naval Shipyard Sdn. Bhd. (LUNAS), the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base here, thus symbolising appreciation for the services of local figures who inspire courage and sovereignty.
The symbolic launch of Coastal Combat Ship 3 Sharif Mashor was officiated by the wife of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi as the Lady Sponsor and witnessed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar at exactly 11.10 am.
Also present were dignitaries including the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts who is also the Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Deputy Minister of Defence, Adly Zahari, Chief of the Navy Admiral, Tan Sri Dr Zulhelmy Ithnain, heirs of Sharif Mashor, Wan Ahmad Makki Mashor Wan Abu Bakar Edruce, as well as other dignitaries.
The ceremony began with the recitation of the holy Quran from Surah Al-Baqarah verse 164 by the Commander of the RMN from KD PELANDOK, Mohd Shamram Ramli, followed by the recitation of a prayer by the Colonel of the Navy Headquarters, Ahmad Kamil Abdullah, who infused an element of gratitude and blessings into the event.
The ceremony continued with the recitation of a poem that appreciated the history of Sharif Mashor's struggle, by Azamin Itam, accompanied by a pantomime performance by the RMN Special Naval Force (PASKAL) entitled Parang Ilang, which depicted the spirit of heroism, sacrifice and loyalty to the homeland.
Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah then delivered the launching speech, followed by a simulation of the rejection of the Engine Order Telegraph (EOT) as a symbolic of the official launch, followed by several small explosions, the sounding of foghorns and the singing of the Samudera Raya song by the RMN Central Band.
The Coastal Combat Ship 3 is a Maharaja Lela-class ship built based on the Gowind 2500 corvette design by Naval Group, and is among the most sophisticated assets in the RMN fleet, designed to carry out four-dimensional maritime operations including surface, subsurface, air and electronic warfare.
As the latest strategic asset, Sharif Mashor is expected to strengthen the RMN fleet modernisation agenda as a whole, in line with the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) aspirations towards the development of the Future Force (AMH) and the RMN Fifteen-to-Five (15-to-5) Transformation Plan to ensure that the security of the waters and the country's sovereignty are maintained.—UKASnews
