Istanbul:<Text>

Malaysia sees strong potential to further strengthen defence cooperation with Turkiye through knowledge exchange and technology transfer, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamed Khaled emphasized Turkiye's remarkable journey towards defence self-reliance as a powerful example of strategic vision and national commitment. The construction of the three Littoral Mission Ship Batch 2 (LMSB2) vessels marks a historic milestone in defence cooperation between Malaysia and Turkiye.

In his speech at the naming and launching ceremony of the first LMSB2 vessel for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) at the Istanbul shipyard, Mohamed Khaled highlighted the significance of this collaboration. He described it as the first government-to-government warship procurement project for the RMN, symbolizing deep trust between the two nations. Trust, he noted, is crucial in international relations, especially in def ence diplomacy.

The ceremony was graced by Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia. The vessel was named Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil in honor of the late Tunku Abdul Jalil, the fourth child of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and Raja Zarith Sofiah. Tunku Abdul Jalil was the first member of the Johor royal family in modern history to hold the title of 'Laksamana' (Admiral), and the name commemorates his courage, resilience, and charitable legacy through the Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation.

Mohamed Khaled expressed optimism about the partnership, aiming to strengthen Malaysia's local defence industry. The vessels, built on Turkiye's proven ADA-class design under the MILGEM Programme, are expected to significantly enhance Malaysia's maritime defence capabilities and support the RMN's 15-to-5 Transformation Plan.

He expressed confidence in the project's progress, acknowledging the dedication of the Royal Malaysian Navy Project T eam, STM (Savunma Teknolojileri Muhendislik), and Istanbul Shipyard, with an expectation for all three vessels to be delivered by the end of 2027. This collaboration is celebrated as a success for the Royal Malaysian Navy, the enduring friendship between Malaysia and Turkiye, and global peace.