COVID-19 Impact: Improving RMN’s Strategic Outlook and Maintaining Operational Readiness During the Pandemic

The Royal Malaysia Navy (RMN) strategic outlook and its operational readiness in its mission “To protect national sovereignty, regional integrity and maritime interests” were affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic since March 2020. The virus, political turmoil, economic instability, budget and monetary problems, vast area and number of operations, two-tier theatre effect, and ageing warships added to its sufferings. On top of that, the maritime domain awareness and security concerns during pandemic on the presence of foreign powers at SCS, the influx of refugees and unlicensed immigrants, and increase in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing required RMN to continue operation although facing safety and health risks regards to the pandemic. This study was designated to examine the types of strategic outlook issues RMN faced and evaluate its operational readiness problems during the pandemic since March 2020. Successively, the result was the best potential answers to improve RMN’s strategic outlook and achieve resilient operational readiness during the pandemic. By applying Barry Buzan’s “Neo-Realism Security” theory, the research relied on the qualitative research methodology utilizing secondary data mainly from official records, files, books, articles and online publications obtained from RMN HQ and libraries. Utilizing content analysis and analytical induction approach, all the information was later arranged into chronological themes of introduction, challenges and issues, effects, initiatives and finally conclusion. The results of this study proved that RMN’s strategic outlook and operational readiness was indeed severely affected during the pandemic due to the virus and health issues, political turmoil, economic instability, budget and monetary problems, vast area and number of operations, two- tier theatre effect, and ageing warships. Maritime domain awareness and security issues continued to demand the presence of RMN at sea to guard Malaysia’s maritime area and borders. In the end, RMN’s strategic outlook was improved for a resilient operational readiness during the pandemic. This in return secured the future of Blue Economy with the improved strategic outlook and resilient operational readiness for the benefit of all Malaysians. This study was only limited to the application of RMN and Malaysia during the pandemic Covid-19.

Perspektif strategik Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) dan kesiagaan operasinya dalam misi “Melindungi Kedaulatan Negara, Integriti Wilayah dan Kepentingan Maritim” telah amat terjejas akibat pandemik COVID-19 sejak Mac 2020. Virus, ketidakstabilan politik, kegawatan ekonomi, masalah bajet dan kewangan, kesan pemerintahan dua wilayah, kawasan yang luas dan bilangan operasi yang kian meningkat, dan kapal perang yang semakin usang telah menambah kepada permasalahannya. Di samping itu, ancaman terhadap domain maritim dan keselamatannya semasa pandemik dengan kehadiran kuasa asing di LCS, kemasukan pelarian dan pendatang tanpa izin, dan peningkatan pencerobohan nelayan asing yang mencuri hasil laut tanpa terkawal memerlukan TLDM untuk meneruskan operasi walaupun menghadapi risiko keselamatan dan kesihatan semasa menghadapi pandemik tersebut. Ketetapan kajian ini adalah bagi mengkaji jenis isu perspektif strategik yang dihadapi TLDM dan menilai masalah kesiagaan operasinya semasa pandemik sejak Mac 2020. Hasilnya adalah langkah penyelesaian yang terbaik untuk menambah baik perspektif strategik TLDM dan ketahanan kesiagaan operasi semasa pandemik. Dengan menggunakan teori "Keselamatan Neo-Realisme" oleh Barry Buzan, penyelidikan ini bergantung pada metodologi penyelidikan kualitatif yang menggunakan data sekunder terutamanya daripada rekod rasmi, fail, buku, artikel dan penerbitan dalam talian yang diperolehi daripada Markas Tentera Laut dan perpustakaan. Dengan menggunakan analisis kandungan dan pendekatan induksi analitikal, maklumat yang diperolehi kemudiannya telah disusun mengikut tema kronologi iatu pengenalan, isu dan cabaran, kesan, inisiatif dan akhimya rumusan. Hasil kajian ini membuktikan bahawa perspektif strategik dan kesiagaan operasi TLDM sememangnya amat teijejas semasa pandemik disebabkan oleh virus dan isu kesihatan, ketidakstabilan politik, kegawatan ekonomi, masalah bajet dan kewangan, pemerintahan dua wilayah, kawasan yang luas dan bilangan operasi yang meningkat, dan kapal perang yang telah usang. Isu kesedaran dan keselamatan domain maritim memerlukan kehadiran TLDM secara berterusan di samudera untuk menjaga kepentingan kawasan maritim dan sempadan Malaysia. Akhimya, perspektif strategik TLDM telah diperbaiki untuk ketahanan kesiagaan operasi semasa pandemik. Ianya seterusnya menjamin masa depan Ekonomi Biru dengan perspektif strategik yang lebih baik dan ketahanan kesiagaan untuk manfaat seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Aplikasi kajian ini hanya terhad kepada TLDM dan semasa keadaan pandemik COVID-19 di Malaysia.