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SEMPORNA: The Tun Sharifah Rodziah Sea Base (PL TSR), located in the waters off Semporna, was officially decommissioned on Wednesday after serving for a decade since July 31, 2015 as a forward operating base safeguarding security and sovereignty in the country’s waters off eastern Sabah.

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Region 2 Naval Headquarters said in a statement that the full ceremonial decommissioning was officiated by Eastern Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Datuk Khir Junaidi Idris as a symbolic end to the base’s service.

The statement said throughout its decade of service, PL TSR (pic) had served as a strategic platform supporting maritime security operations, monitoring areas of maritime interest and strengthening the presence of security forces in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone).

It said the base’s strategic location enabled rapid responses to security threats and symbolised the RMN’s continued commitment to defending national sovereignty.

Meanwhile, the statement said the functions and role of PL TSR would be assumed by Auxiliary Vessel Tun Azizan (KA TAZ) to ensure the continuity of the RMN’s operational presence and readiness in eastern Sabah.

Originally a mobile offshore production unit known as Hercules 259 built in the United States, the platform was transformed into a forward sea base focused on security through a strategic collaboration involving the RMN, Petronas and Sapura Kencana.