By By M. Husairy Othman New Straits Times 15 August, 2004 

A Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) frigate will be turned into a floating museum off the coast in Lumut in a bid by the Perak Government to boost tourism. State Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan said the KD Rahmat was offered to the State after it was decommissioned in December last year.

"We have agreed in principle to accept the offer made by the RMN," he said, adding that he would be making a tour of the ship next week.

He said discussions would be held with the Department of Museums and Antiquities on artifacts suitable for display on the ship.

He said the ship would not be turned into a maritime museum similar to the one in Malacca.

"It will be something unique," he said.

It is learnt that several States, including Pahang, Penang and Malacca have also expressed interest in the 37-year-old vessel which has its own interesting story to tell.

The 93.9-metre long vessel was built by Yarrow Ship Builders in Glasgow, Scotland, and launched on Dec 18, 1967 before being commissioned on National Day in 1971.

Initially named KD Hang Jebat, the commissioning of the 1,250-tonne vessel was disrupted on several occasions primarily due to problems with the ship's main engines.

It was subsequently renamed KD Rahmat in 1970 before it was successfully commissioned on Aug 31 the following year.

During its 32-year service in the RMN, the ship was commanded by 17 officers and covered about 1,899,510 nautical miles before it was turned into a static training vessel in July 2002.

A RMN official, who declined to be named, said some equipment, including the radar and two 70mm cannons, would be removed before the ship was handed over to the State Government.