ID :
23520
Thu, 10/09/2008 - 17:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23520
The shortlink copeid
SCORPENE 2 CREW SACRIFICE IN THE NAME OF DUTY
From Muin Abdul Majid
CARTAGENA (Spain), Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Would-be submariner Saad Rabani has described leaving his family to train to become one of the crew members of the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) Scorpene 2 submarine, as the price to pay to serve the country.
For the past four years, the father of three has not returned to his Alor
Gajah home in Melaka to celebrate Hari Raya Puasa with his family.
"They do call me, asking when I would go back. But this is part of my work
in serving the country," said the 41-year-old when met at the launch and naming
of Scorpene 2 by Queen Tuanku Nur Zahirah here.
"I suppose it's the same for those in similar situations, be they in
the
army, navy or air force," said Saad, who is among 142 RMN personnel undergoing
training in Brest, France, to enable them to man two Scorpene submarines ordered
by Malaysia for RM3.4 billion in 2002.
The electrical technician, who has been with the navy for 20 years, said
the
Scorpene 2 submarine named "Tun Razak" by the queen Wednesday was a
highly-automated machine, as compared to the vessel used for training currently.
"There's a lot of automation aboard Scorpene 2, everything works at the
push of a button. It's a compact submarine that requires one to have mental
strength as one has to handle multiple tasks," he said.
Saad also talked about the cramped conditions aboard a submarine where
one's bed was not unlike that of a coffin.
"But I feel proud to have been chosen, despite my age, to be among the
pioneers of RMN's Submarine Force," he said.
Sarawakian Wahid Mohamad Sejili echoed Saad's sentiments, saying he was
prepared to become a submariner.
"There are numerous challenges as this is one of Malaysia's first
submarines and working on one is different from working on normal ships," he
said.
Meanwhile, Jeffery Lenjau Jaing described camaraderie and team work as
important to be able to work in confined spaces of a submarine.
"It's very challenging to become a submariner but I'm up to it," said the
navy man from Miri, Sarawak.
CARTAGENA (Spain), Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Would-be submariner Saad Rabani has described leaving his family to train to become one of the crew members of the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) Scorpene 2 submarine, as the price to pay to serve the country.
For the past four years, the father of three has not returned to his Alor
Gajah home in Melaka to celebrate Hari Raya Puasa with his family.
"They do call me, asking when I would go back. But this is part of my work
in serving the country," said the 41-year-old when met at the launch and naming
of Scorpene 2 by Queen Tuanku Nur Zahirah here.
"I suppose it's the same for those in similar situations, be they in
the
army, navy or air force," said Saad, who is among 142 RMN personnel undergoing
training in Brest, France, to enable them to man two Scorpene submarines ordered
by Malaysia for RM3.4 billion in 2002.
The electrical technician, who has been with the navy for 20 years, said
the
Scorpene 2 submarine named "Tun Razak" by the queen Wednesday was a
highly-automated machine, as compared to the vessel used for training currently.
"There's a lot of automation aboard Scorpene 2, everything works at the
push of a button. It's a compact submarine that requires one to have mental
strength as one has to handle multiple tasks," he said.
Saad also talked about the cramped conditions aboard a submarine where
one's bed was not unlike that of a coffin.
"But I feel proud to have been chosen, despite my age, to be among the
pioneers of RMN's Submarine Force," he said.
Sarawakian Wahid Mohamad Sejili echoed Saad's sentiments, saying he was
prepared to become a submariner.
"There are numerous challenges as this is one of Malaysia's first
submarines and working on one is different from working on normal ships," he
said.
Meanwhile, Jeffery Lenjau Jaing described camaraderie and team work as
important to be able to work in confined spaces of a submarine.
"It's very challenging to become a submariner but I'm up to it," said the
navy man from Miri, Sarawak.
