Malaysia's first submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman that embarrassed the nation for failing to dive earlier this year, is again docked at the naval base due to unspecified problems.

NONE Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed he was not informed of the incident but it's understood the Royal Malaysian Navy is in the midst of preparing an official answer on the issue.

English tabloid Malay Mail yesterday quoted sources from the defence industry who claimed that problems were detected in a routine maintenance check after the submarine completed its tropical water trials last month.

Since then, the submarine has reportedly remained unrepaired at the Teluk Sepanggar naval base in Sabah.

When asked on the report, Ahmad Zahid replied to Malaysiakini in a SMS, "I was not informed about it, please check with the navy chief".

Navy chief Admiral Abdul Aziz Jaafar was in a meeting when Malaysiakini contacted his office, but a navy corporate communications official said a press release will be sent to media pending approval by Abdul Aziz.

NONE In the same report, Malay Mail said the submarine crew may risk losing their submariners' rating if they remained on land.

However the arrival of the second submarine, KD Tun Razak , on July 2, saved them from that particular embarrassment.

The crew is expected to take over the second submarine and go to sea in its mandatory tropical water trial.

The daily reported in February that KD Tunku Abdul Rahman , which arrived in Malaysia in September last year, suffered a technical defect that prevented it from diving for three months.

The problem was fixed in February and the submarine started its tropical water trials on Feb 20.

Defence ministry procured the two submarines for RM3.4 billion in 2002 from French naval defence company DCNS and Spain's Navantia.

However the total cost, including maintenance services and other related equipments, skyrocketed to RM7.3 billion, according to a written answer given by Ahmad Zahid to the Parliament.