KA Bunga Mas Lima

The Bunga Mas Lima was built at Malaysian Marine and Heavy Engineering in Pasir Gudang, Johore together with her sister, KA Bunga Mas Enam (BM6). She was launched on 7 March 1996, and was subsequently purchased by the Malaysian Government.[1] The conversion included modifications to accommodate extra crew, fittings for launching rigid hull inflatable boats, a helicopter deck to accommodate landing and a hangar. The foreword crane of Bunga Mas Lima was taken out since its presence inhibited helicopter landing while the 2nd crane were rested to the starboard side of the ship above the hangar.

Labeled as auxiliary vessel and manned by MISC crews, conscripted into the navy reserve, with Malaysian Armed Forces special operations on board, the ship is a signal that new warships are badly needed by the navy to fill in the gap on the absence of multipurpose support ships as all of them had been sent to Gulf of Aden during the piracy breakout.[2] The ships, KD Sri Inderasakti, KD Mahawangsa and KD Sri Inderapura are either undergoing refurbishment or engaged in other duties within Malaysian waters.

However, the current RMN warships, especially the multipurpose command and support ship and the LST, were not fitted with a helicopter hangar but only a landing pad, which is why the RMN opted to have a vessel such as Bunga Mas Lima. Without a hangar, it is almost impossible for a taskgroup to rely on to helicopter operations, as they cannot maintain and service the helicopter especially in rough sea conditions.

On the contrary, the frigates and the New Generation Patrol Vessels (NGPV) had themselves equipped for helicopter operation, with an enclosed hangar and a landing pad capable of receiving an Agusta Westland Super Lynx or a Eurocopter AS-555 Fennec helicopter.

• In January 2011, the Royal Malaysian Navy foiled a hijacking attempt on the Malaysian-flagged MT Bunga Laurel chemical tanker carrying lubricating oil and ethylene dichloride. The KA Bunga Mas Lima responded after receiving a distress signal from the Bunga Laurel. A Fennec attack helicopter was used to pin down the pirate mothership as PASKAL commandos boarded the tanker. The commandos injured three pirates in the battle to retake the ship. 23 crew members were rescued and seven Somali pirates were detained.[3]
• On 5 February 2011, the Bunga Mas Lima was on duty in the Gulf of Aden and sailed to the Port of Adabiya, about two and a half hours' journey south of Cairo, to ferry 500 Malaysian students out of Egypt during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Besides the Bunga Mas Lima, the Royal Malaysian Air Force deployed a C-130 Hercules. Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia also made special rescue flights out of Cairo to bring Malaysian students home.[4]

• Bunga Mas Lima container-carrier