Wednesday, 3 June 2026

NOTE BOOK: THE 1990 PENANG INTERNATIONAL ROYAL FLEET REVIEW


Compiled by: Navy Veteran Hj. Zulheimy Ma'amor
Historical Date: 17–21 May 1990
Location: Penang, Malaysia

Reference:




Event Overview & Background
  • Event Name: Royal Malaysian Navy International Royal Fleet Review (RMN IRFR 1990). 
  • Date: 17 - 21 May 1990. 
  • Location: Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
  • Origin of the Tradition: The Royal Fleet Review is a military tradition originating from the British heritage, dating back to June 1346 during the reign of King Edward III before sailing to war with France. Originally, it served to mobilize ships for war while showcasing the strength of the Armada.
  • The 1990 Occasion: Organized as the International Fleet Review Parade (PDAA 1990), this event marked the 55th anniversary of the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) and coincided with Visit Malaysia Year 1990. It remains the largest event ever hosted by the RMN.
  • Atmosphere: For 5 historic days, Penang was transformed into a bustling "Navy City," flooded with naval personnel from 21 nations sporting their unique and colorful dress uniforms.


KD LEKIR (F26)
Highlights & Key Operations
The Royal Review
  • Reviewing Ship: KD Mutiara was designated as the official Review Ship, carrying His Royal Highness Yang Di Pertuan Agong Sultan Azlan Shah, Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, and other high-ranking dignitaries to inspect the armada.
  • The Gun Salute: As the international naval fleet entered Penang Harbor, KD Lekir was given the distinct honor of returning a 21-gun salute fired from the Penang mainland by the Malaysian Army Artillery Regiment.
Participating Fleet Statistics
  • Total Warships:  59 ships
  • Participating Nations : 21 Countries

Nation

Ship Name / Pennang

Type / Class

Commanding Officer

RUSSIA

Admiral Tributs

Udaloy I -class Anti Submarine Destroyer

Vladimir Paviovich

U.S.A

USS Bunker Hill

Ticonderoga-class Guided Missile Cruiser

Capt. Thomas F.Marfiak

JAPAN

  1. JDS Katori (3501)

  2. JDS Haruyuki (D128)

  3. JDS Setoyuki (D131)

  1. Training Vessel

  2. Destroyer

  3. Destroyer

  1. Capt. Teruhiro Shaihara

  2. Cdr. Kenji Yatsu

  3. Cdr. Satoru Inada

INDONESIA

  1. KRI Ahmad Yani (351)

  2. Kri Hasanuddin (333)

  1. Frigate

  2. Frigate


UNITED KINDGOM

HMS Cardiff (D108)

Destroyer

Capt. J.H. Morgan

AUSTRALIA

  1. HMAS Westralia (O195)

  2. HMAS Derwent (DE 49)

  3. HMAS Canberra (FFG02)

  1. Replenishment Oiler

  2. Destroyer Escort

  3. Frigate


NEW ZEALAND

HMNZS Waikato (F55)

Frigate

Cdr.David Ian Ledson

BANGLADESH

  1. BNS Ali Haider (F17)

  2. BNS Umar Farooq (F16)

Both Frigate

  1. Capt.Mohammed Nurul Islam

  2. Cdr. Khonder Moyeenuddin

THAILAND

HTMS KHIRIRAT

Anti Submarine Warfare Corvette

Cdr. Sommai Prakansamut

FRANCE

  1. FNS CDT Duching (F785)

  2. FNS Marne (A630)

  1. Frigate

  2. Tanker

  1. Lt.Cdr. L’Henalf

  2. Cdr. Josselin

INDIA

  1. INS Ganga (F22)

  2. INS Khukri (P49)

  1. Frigate

  2. Missile Corvette

  1. Capt.SPS Dalal

  2. Cdr. Sanjeev Bhasin

BRUNEI

KPD Waspada

Fast Attact Craft

Major Hj. Jamaludin bin Ghaffar

ITALY

Lebeccio (F572)

Frigate

Cdr. Guzzini Pasquale

SRI LANKA

SLNS Jayasagara

Offshore Patrol Vessel

Cdr. HS Rathna Keerthi

OMAN

SNV NashAl Bahr

Amphibious Warfare

Lt.Cdr. Issa bin Mohammed Al Raisi

TURKEY

TCG Turgutreis

Frigate

Capt. Devrim Corbacioglu.

SINGAPORE

RSS Victory (88)

Corvette 



Cultural & City Festivities
  • Freedom of Entry Parade: A massive parade involving 3,000 crew members and officers marching through the streets of George Town, Penang.
  • Musical Military Bands: Public performances featuring international naval bands from the USA, USSR, UK, Japan, India, Somalia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Oman, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
  • Public Entertainment: Military bands from nations including the USA, Somalia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Russia, Japan, India, Oman, and Britain performed popular tunes for the massive crowds.
  • Local Festivities: Stage shows, cultural dances, chingay demonstrations, silat, regatta ceremonies, dragon boat races, and trishaw races filled the city.
  • Water Sports: Regatta ceremonies and Dragon Boat racing.


Personal Reflections (Veteran Account)
  • Author: Hj. Zulheimy Ma'amor, an RMN veteran who served for 16 years with the Royal Malaysian Navy (1980–1996). 
  • Memories: He counts IRFR 1990 as one of the sweetest milestones of his naval career. Serving on KD Lekir (1989 - 1991) allowed him to witness this historic home event, which he followed a year later by participating in the New Zealand International Royal Fleet Review in Auckland (1991).
  • Historical Gap Note: The author expressed disappointment that detailed official records or media archives of this massive event are heavily missing from modern websites, including the RMN's official portal—leaving personal logs and rare archive footage (such as Japanese TV broadcasts on YouTube) as vital historical preservation pieces.
C&P
3/6/2026: 2.10 a.m
By Hj Zulheimy Maamor at
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