He said the budget allocation to acquire the assets is being worked out by the navy and defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

He said companies in several countries, among them China, the Netherlands, and Turkey, had expressed interest. “We have shortlisted several proposals,” he said, Bernama reported.

A decision on the shipbuilder would be made when budget funds have been allocated, he said.

The navy received four littoral mission ships between March 2021 and January. The ships are KD Sundang, KD Badik, KD Keris and KD Rencong.

The ships, in the Keris class, are considered to be fast patrol vessels used mainly for coastal security. They can also be equipped with a helicopter flight deck and missiles. The navy has previously said it would buy 18 such vessels to replace its ageing fleet of patrol craft.

Reza said the navy is also expected to receive two Augusta Westland AW139 utility helicopters in April and another in September. The helicopters would be based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

He said subsequent acquisitions of helicopters would be made in the coming years.

Reza hoped the government would make a decision soon on the troubled littoral combat ship (LCS) programme, and whether to proceed with Boustead as the contracted shipbuilder.

“As we are aware, Boustead has problems on LCS and the navy hopes the government will make a decision at the end of this year. The Royal Malaysian Navy is of the view that the LCS project should proceed as it has been going on for so long,” he said.

In early January, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission detained two chief executive officers of a company involved in the contract to acquire six LCS ships. They were suspected of misappropriation and receiving bribes via payments made to three companies abroad.