NOTEBOOK: KD LEKIR > VOYAGE TO HONG KONG & SOUTH KOREA (1990)

Based on the provided personal logs of Navy Veteran Hj. Zulheimy Ma'amor, here is a structured study notebook detailing the Royal Malaysian Navy's operational voyage in September 1990 featuring KD Lekir and KD Mahawangsa.

Operational Voyage Notebook: KD Lekir (1990)

1. Mission Overview & Itinerary Changes

• Timeline: September 1990.
• Deployment Ships: KD Lekir and KD Mahawangsa.
• Original Plan: The initial operational schedule plotted a course to Hong Kong and Beijing, China.
• The Mid-Sea Divertion: Due to unavoidable circumstances, the itinerary to China was canceled. While out at sea, the Commanding Officer, Kdr Noor Azman Hj Othman, announced to the crew that the China leg would be replaced with a voyage to South Korea.

2. Leg 1: Hong Kong (September 1990)

At the time of the visit, Hong Kong was still a British Colony, prior to its handover to the People's Republic of China on July 1, 1997.

Reference: KD Lekir : Hong Kong 1990

Naval Docking: HMS Tamar

• Both Malaysian vessels berthed at HMS Tamar, the British Royal Navy base in Hong Kong.
• Historical context: HMS Tamar served as the British naval base from 1897 until 1997. It derived its name from a temporary British warship used before permanent buildings were completed.
• The base featured the landmark Prince of Wales building (completed in 1978) and was officially decommissioned on April 11, 1997.

Cultural & Geographical Observations

• Tsim Sha Tsui (TST): A bustling cape town at the southern tip of the Kowloon Peninsula pointing toward Victoria Harbour. It serves as a major tourism hub.
• Kowloon Mosque & Islamic Centre: Located between Nathan Road and Haiphong Road, this mosque can hold roughly 2,000 worshippers.
• History: Originally built in 1896 for Muslim Indian soldiers serving the British Army on the current site of the TST Police Station.
• Reconstruction: Rebuilt in 1984 at its current Nathan Road location using community funds and structural damage compensation paid out by the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Corporation due to subway line construction.
• Islam in Hong Kong: Traced back to the arrival of the British Indian Brigade. The oldest mosque in the region is Jamia Mosque, constructed early on in 1840.

KOWLOON MOSQUE

3. Leg 2: South Korea (September 1990)

Following the stop in Hong Kong, the ships crossed over to South Korea, focusing on the capital city and its primary port.

Reference: KD Lekir : South Korea 1990

Port of Entry: Incheon

• Incheon is noted as South Korea's third-largest metropolitan city and principal seaport.
• Military History: The author highlights Pohang Beach in Incheon, noting its historical significance from September 15, 1950, when General Douglas MacArthur led the landing of 75,000 American troops and 261 warships during the Korean War.
• The ships docked at the South Korean Naval Base located in Incheon.

Capital Exploration: Seoul

• Kyongbokkung Palace (Gyeongbokgung): Built in 1394 during the 3rd year of the Choson Dynasty (1392–1910), this sprawling 40-acre palace complex serves as a grand historical symbol. Though it originally housed 200 buildings, Japanese invasions at the end of the 16th century leveled most of it, leaving only 10 structures intact. It also houses the Traditional Folk Museum (opened in 1975).
• Seoul Tower (Namsan Tower): A 479.7-meter-tall (above sea level) communication and observation landmark constructed in 1969 on Mount Namsan.

4. Veteran Personal Reflections

• Crew Connection: While exploring Tsim Sha Tsui, the author unexpectedly ran into his nephew, LK1 PPP Abdul Halim, who was stationed aboard the accompanying vessel, KD Mahawangsa. The two had previously served together on KD Sri Negeri Sembilan back in 1987.
• The Naval Lifestyle: The notebook captures a poignant sentiment regarding a career in the Royal Malaysian Navy: it offers a life rich with experiences, allowing personnel to travel and explore foreign lands extensively without personal financial burden. As the author states: "Today here, tomorrow there, and the day after, who knows where."

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

5 June 2026: 3.08 a.m