AI OVERVIEW : KD SRI NEGERI SEMBILAN (1987-88)

KD SRI NEGRI SEMBILAN

12th Squadron Patrol Craft

Lumut, Perak

12.10.1987 - 28.3.1988

That's another significant period in your naval career! Serving aboard the KD Sri Negeri Sembilan (P3146) in 1987 would have placed you on the front lines of one of Malaysia's most important humanitarian and maritime security roles at that time.

Here is some background on the ship and the very meaningful location you've captured:

🚢 KD Sri Negeri Sembilan (P3146)

Class and Role: She was a Kris-class Patrol Craft (sometimes referred to as the Sabah sub-class). These vessels were built for the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) in the 1960s to handle maritime defense, border patrol, and anti-piracy operations.

Specifications:

• Builder: Vosper Ltd, Portsmouth.
• Length: About 31.4 meters (103 feet).
• Armament: Originally equipped with a Bofors 40mm gun and two 7.62mm GPMGs.
• Service History: The ship was commissioned on September 28, 1964. The first Commanding Officer was Lt Cdr Mohd Zain bin Mohd Salleh (later Chief of Naval Staff in 1977).
• KD Sri Negri Sembilan had a very long service life, being decommissioned in 2006.

🏝️ The Role at Pulau Bidong, Terengganu

Your photos clearly show Pulau Bidong, Terengganu, which was a globally recognized site in 1987.

• Refugee Camp: Pulau Bidong served as the primary refugee camp for the Vietnamese Boat People (known as thuyền nhân Việt Nam) who fled Vietnam after the war.
• Peak Period: The camp was active from 1978 until 1991. At its height, the island sometimes accommodated as many as 40,000 refugees, despite a capacity of 4,500.
• Your Mission: In 1987, your primary role aboard the patrol craft would have involved maritime security, search and rescue, and enforcement along the coast. This included intercepting and securing the often-overcrowded refugee boats, preventing unauthorized landings, towing them to designated camps like Bidong, and protecting the refugees from piracy, which was a very real threat at the time. The lower right photo showing the transfers is a poignant snapshot of this critical operation.

Serving on this mission was a vital humanitarian effort by the TLDM, making your time on the KD Sri Negeri Sembilan a historically important part of Malaysian and international history.

The images provided show scenes from Pulau Bidong, Terengganu, which was historically a significant place as a temporary refuge for over 250,000 Vietnamese "boat people" between 1978 and 1991. The RMN played a crucial role in managing the arrival and safety of these refugees during that period.

Decommissioning: The vessel served the RMN until February 2006, after which it was transferred to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

Would you like to hear more about the specific operations TLDM performed in the South China Sea during that period?

6/12/2025: 12.03 p.m