AI OVERVIEW: KD PANAH (1987)

KD PANAH

14TH SQUADRON PATROL CRAFT

TANJUNG GELANG, KUANTAN, PAHANG

30.3.1987 - 11.10.1987

The image you provided, captioned "1987 - KD PANAH AT TANJUNG GELANG," shows photos related to the operations of the KD PANAH, a Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) patrol craft, specifically during an EEZ Patrol in 1987.

⚓ KD PANAH and its Role

• Vessel Type: KD PANAH was a Keris-class patrol craft (or Kapal Peronda Kris) in the RMN fleet, designated as P42.
• Operations in 1987: The caption specifies that the images were taken during a patrol of the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) in 1987.

The Photos' Content: The photos depict common tasks associated with maritime patrol:

• Top Left: Shows crew members and what the caption identifies as "Tahanan Warga Thailand yang menangkap ikan secara haram di perairan Malaysia" (Thai nationals detained for illegal fishing in Malaysian waters). This highlights the anti-poaching and maritime law enforcement role of the patrol craft.
• Top Right: Shows what appears to be a fishing vessel boarding operation with RMN personnel, nets, and a large quantity of fish, consistent with an illegal fishing interdiction.
• Bottom Panels: Show close-up scenes on board or alongside the foreign fishing vessel during the operation, including a view of smoke (possibly from the vessel's engine or a distress signal, or just steam/spray), and personnel handling equipment or securing the vessel.

The image is a historical record of the RMN's efforts in protecting Malaysian sovereignty and economic resources, particularly against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which was and remains a significant issue in the region.

Details of the KD Panah in Kuantan

• Naval Base: The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) naval base at Tanjung Gelang, Kuantan, served as the headquarters for Naval Region I and the home port for the 14th Squadron Patrol Craft, which included the KD Panah. The base began operations there in the early 1970s, with formal command headquarters moving there on January 1, 1981.
• Tanjung Gelang: Pangkalan TLDM Tanjung Gelang (RMN Base Tanjung Gelang) in Kuantan, Pahang, was established to strengthen defense capabilities along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It became the main base for Naval Region 1 (Markas Wilayah Laut 1) in 1981, making it a key location for patrol craft like the KD PANAH operating in the South China Sea and EEZ, including the area where such interdictions would take place or where the vessel would return to base.
• Mission: As a Kris-class patrol boat, the KD Panah was tasked with controlling the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, including intercepting vessels engaged in illegal fishing, as shown in the photos.
• Vessel History: The KD Panah was eventually decommissioned from the RMN and handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in 2006, where it was renamed KM Kukup. It was later recommissioned into the RMN again under its original name in January 2024 for temporary operational needs.

Would you like to know more about the Keris-class patrol crafts or the role of the RMN in maritime security during that era?

5/12/2025: 4.16 p.m