KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s first Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS 1) for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has been launched in Istanbul, Türkiye, marking another milestone in maritime security cooperation between the two countries.
The Home Ministry said the vessel was launched at Desan Shipyard, Friday in a ceremony officiated by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The ceremony was witnessed by Türkiye’s Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Turkish Naval Forces commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu and Desan Shipyard representative Cenk İsmail Kaptanoğlu.
In a statement Friday, the ministry said MPMS 1 was scheduled to be fully completed and begin its voyage to Malaysia by the end of January next year.
The launch included the symbolic breaking of a bottle containing seawater from Malaysia before the vessel was launched into the Sea of Marmara.
“The construction of MPMS 1 is a manifestation of the close relationship between Malaysia and the Republic of Türkiye, particularly in maritime security and enforcement,” the ministry said as reported by NST.
It said the acquisition of the strategic asset would strengthen MMEA’s operational capabilities in safeguarding the security and sovereignty of Malaysian waters.
The project is also expected to pave the way for greater cooperation between Malaysia and Türkiye in shipbuilding, maritime industry development, and the sharing of expertise and technology.
“The cooperation reflects both countries’ commitment to expanding their mutually beneficial strategic relationship,” it said.
Saifuddin also held a bilateral meeting with his Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of the launch.
The ministry said the meeting discussed issues of mutual interest, including efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and explore further cooperation and technology-sharing opportunities, particularly in the security and maritime industries.
The ministry statement added, the cooperation could serve as a catalyst for new areas of collaboration while supporting the government’s efforts to strengthen the preparedness and capabilities of the country’s security assets.
