I joined the Navy when I was 19 years old. Apart from wanting to serve my country, I truly wanted to make a difference. I joined the Navy with dreams of seeing exotic places around the world...
Sailor's life is completely an adventurous one; it's just like any other job... Sailor is the one who knows the feelings and emotions of the sea.... A rough day at sea is still better than any day in the office.
When I first drafted to the ship in 1981, my petty officer used to say to me that "As a sailor, ship is your home, sea is your playground, and war is your game." I always kept that in my mind until I retired in 1996...
After 16 years serving onboard 9 RMN ships, I had learned that sea is my country, ship is my home, waves are my enemies, and war is not my game, as I never get involved in the war, and duty is my life....
AHOY! SAILOR
We are sailors; we're rugged, able men of the sea.
Braving the oceans to the highest degree
GOOD NIGHT... and sweet dreams...
THE SHIPS I HAVE SERVED ON FROM 1981 TO 1992
KD GANAS (P3503)
1ST SQUADRON FAST ATTACK CRAFT (MISSILE)
3 FEBRUARY 1981 - 27 JULY 1981
BASE: WOODLANDS, SINGAPORE
- A Perdana class Fast Attack Craft (missile).
- Squadron: 1st Squadron FAC (M) together with KD Perdana (P3501), KD Serang (P3502), and KD Ganyang (P3504).
- Built by CMN in Cherbourg, France, she was commissioned on February 28, 1973.
- First Commanding Officer: Commander Muhammad Yasin Bin Hj Salleh TLDM N/400179.
- Displacement: 265 tonnes (full load)
- Speed: 36 knots
- Armament: 1 x Bofors 57mm main gun, 1 x Bofors 40mm aft gun
- Missiles: 4 x Exocet MM38
- Ref: Zulheimy Maamor: KD Ganas, 1981
KD RAJA JAROM (A1502)
32ND SEALIFT SQUADRON
18 JULY 1981 - 28 JUNE 1982
BASE: WOODLANDS, SINGAPORE
- A Landing Ship Tank (LST 1502)
- A vessel designed to transport troops, heavy vehicles, and supplies directly into beaches.
- 32nd Sealift Squadron together with KD Sri Langkawi (A1500) and KD Sri Bangi (A1501).
- Original Identity: USS Sedgwick County (LST-112 3) US Navy
- Class: LST-542
- History: Served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
- Commissioned in RMN: 1 August 1976
- First Commanding Officer: Lt. Kol. (Laut) Abd Wahid Ananf.
- Displacement: 1,653 tonnes (standard), 4,080 tonnes (full load)
- Armament: Bofors 40mm guns
- Capabilities: Equipped with a helicopter landing deck and a bow door for beach landings.
- Decommissioning: 9 September 1999.
- Ref: Zulheimy Maamor: KD Raja Jarom 1982
RIVERINE CRAFT PERSONEL (RCP)
28 MARCH 1983 - 24 NOVEMBER 1984
BASE: KD SRI REJANG, SIBU, SARAWAK
- Based at KD Sri Rejang, a naval base located at Sibu, Sarawak, in East Malaysia.
- KD Sri Rejang was the nerve centre for riverine craft operations during a critical period of Communist insurgency.
- It operated as part of the Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM); its primary mission was to combat the North Kalimantan People's Party (PARAKU) insurgents.
- The Riverine Crafts provided vital water transport for the Malaysian Army and the Police Field Force (PFF), moving personnel and supplies to remote outposts that were inaccessible by road.
- The Riverine Craft consisted of:
- RCP: Riverine Craft Personnel
- LCM: Landing Craft Merchanised
- LCP: Landing Craft Personnel
- These vessels were lightly armed with machine guns (GPMG) and Oerlikon 20mm cannons (RCP and LCM) and optimised for patrolling the riverbanks (Sungai Rejang) and intercepting insurgent movements.
- Ref: Zulheimy Maamor: KD Sri Rejang Dalam Kenangan
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 2ND SQUADRON FAST ATTACK CRAFT (MISSILE) 25 NOVEMBER 1984 - 5 JANUARY 1985 BASE: MALAYSIAN SHIPYARD ENGINEERING, PASIR GUDANG, JOHOR
  |
KD MUTIARA
36TH HYDROGRAPHIC SQUADRON
26 AUGUST 1985 - 1 MAY 1986
BASE: LUMUT, PERAK
- Hydrographic Survey Vessel
- 36th Hydrographic Squadron
- Commissioned: 18 December 1977 at Hong Leong Lurssen Dockyard, Butterworth, Pulau Pinang.
- First Commanding Officer: Commander Goh Siew Chong TLDM N/400157
- Length: 71 metres
- Displacement: 2,515 tonnes
- Main Machinery: 2 x Deutz SBA 12M 528 Diesel
- Speed/Range: capable of a minimum endurance of 4,500 nautical miles at a speed of 16 knots.
- Armament: 4 Oerlikon 20 mm (twin).
- Decommissioned: 20 July 2018.
- Ref: Zulheimy Maamor: KD Mutiara 1985-86
KD GANYANG (P3504)
1ST SQUADRON FAST ATTACK CRAFT (MISSILE)
8 SEPTEMBER 1986 - 29 MARCH 1987
BASE: LUMUT, PERAK
- A Perdana Class Fast Attack Craft (missile), also known as the La Combattante II design.
- The 4th ship in the 1st Squadron Fast Attack Craft (Missile), together with KD Perdana (P3501), KD Serang (P3502), and KD Ganas (P3503).
- Commissioned: 20 March 1973 at Construction Mechanique de Normandie, Cherbourg, France.
- First Commanding Officer: Lt Cdr Aminuddin bin Abdullah TLDM N/400153
- Displacement: 234 tonnes standard, 265 tonnes full load
- Speed: up to 36 knots
- Armament: 1x Bofors 57mm gun (main) and Bofors 40mm gun (aft).
- Missile: Exocet MM38 Missile.
- Ref: Zulheimy Maamor: KD Ganyang 1986-1987
KD PANAH (P42)
14TH SQUADRON PATROL CRAFT
30 MARCH 1987 - 11 OCTOBER 1987
BASE: KUANTAN, PAHANG
- A Kris-class Patrol Craft
- Displacement: 109 tonnes
- Armament: 2 x 40/70 mm Bofors, 2 x 12.7 mm MG
- Speed: 27 Knots
- 27 June 2006: transferred to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and renamed KM Kukup (3135).
- 2024: Re-commissioned to RMN and renamed as KD Sri Sarawak.
- Ref: Zulheimy Maamor: KD Panah 1987
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| KD SRI NEGRI SEMBILAN (P3145) 12TH SQUADRON PATROL CRAFT 12 OCTOBER 1987 - 28 MARCH 1988 BASE: LUMUT, PERAK
|
KD LEKIR (F26)
22ND CORVETTE SQUADRON
7 AUGUST 1989 - 4 DECEMBER 1991
BASE: LUMUT, PERAK
- A Kasturi-class corvette (the other being KD Kasturi-F25)
- Commissioned: 15 August 1984, at Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel, Germany. First Commanding Officer Commander Ramly bin Abu Bakar TLDM N/400228.
- Armament: Exocet MM38 Surface-to-Surface Missile (SSM)
- Guns: Bofors 57mm/70 SAK MK1 Main Gun and Bofors 40mm/70 SAK MK1 Secondary Gun
- ASW: Equipped with a hull-mounted sonar and three Bofors 375mm Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASR) launchers.
- Ref: Zulheimy Maamor: KD Lekir: 7 Aug 1989 - 4 Dec 1991
Serving aboard the RMN ships was not just a job; it was a way of life that shaped my character and forged lifelong bonds. Each vessel had its own unique personality, and every mission brought new challenges and adventures.
The camaraderie among the crew was unparalleled. We were a family, united by our shared experiences and the trials we faced together. From navigating treacherous waters to conducting drills, every moment was a testament to our resilience and dedication.
The thrill of being at sea, with the wind in our hair and the salt spray on our faces, was invigorating. We learned to respect the ocean's power and beauty, understanding that it could be both a friend and a foe. Each deployment was an opportunity to explore new horizons, witness breathtaking sunrises, and experience the vastness of the world from a perspective few get to see.
As I reflect on my time serving aboard the RMN ships, I am filled with gratitude for the lessons learned and the memories created. The experiences have left an indelible mark on my life, shaping who I am today.
In the end, it was more than just service; it was an adventure that I will cherish forever.
RETIRED FROM THE NAVY:
15 JANUARY 1996
Hj Zulheimy Maamor
Lembah Keramat, K.L.
Updated: 27 May 2026: 10.16 p.m.
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