The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) does not expect to undertake any significant development programmes in 2014 beyond existing commitments due to budgetary constraints, the navy chief Admiral Aziz Jaafar has said.
Speaking to reporters following his annual New Year address to the RMN at the Ministry of Defence in Kuala Lumpur, Adm Aziz said the current financial situation precluded any major programmes, including the procurement of additional ships.
That said, he added that should any opportunities to purchase secondhand ships that met the RMN's operational criteria come up, the RMN would ask the government to fund such a purchase.
"We are open to such possibilities, if it arises but it would depend on the financial situation of the government," he said, citing previous failed attempts to purchase the Bruneian Nakhoda Ragam-class OPVs because no funding was available.