Saifuddin Nasution: Second multi-purpose mission ship under construction in Turkiye to be completed by end‑2027

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 14 — Malaysia's Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution has revealed that the second Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS) being built in Turkey is on track to be completed by the end of next year, expected to be handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) by then. The first MPMS is anticipated to arrive in March next year, a month prior to the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA).

Saifuddin said the speedy progress and favorable pricing of the vessel has bolstered the Home Ministry's confidence in their decision to procure this vessel. He plans to visit Istanbul at the end of the month to personally assess the construction's advancement. The project is seen as a significant stride in enhancing the MMEA's capabilities, especially in the face of increasingly complex maritime security challenges.

The ministry is also considering an offer for a second offshore patrol vessel previously utilized by the US Coast Guard, with the evaluation based on its seaworthiness and repair costs as suggested by a report from the Home Ministry secretary-general.