Putrajaya will be conducting an open tender for the maintenance contract of the navy's two Scorpene submarines in 2021, said Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu.

In a parliamentary written reply dated Dec 9, he said the pre-qualification process would be done according to government policy.

"The pre-qualification open tender process for the Scorpene submarines - KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak - will be implemented in 2021.

"This is in line with the procurement procedure policy of the government," he told Bersatu senator Suhaimi Abdullah in a parliamentary reply dated Dec 9.

Mohamad said the selection process would result in competitive pricing for the maintenance of the Scorpene submarines.

Suhaimi asked how can the government tackle the "RM50 million annual maintenance cost of the Scorpene", which is seen as a huge burden to the government.

It was reported in 2011 that the annual maintenance cost of Scorpene stood at RM50 million. 

Malaysia had ordered the Scorpene submarines costing RM3.4 billion in 2002 and the vessels were jointly built by DCNS of France and Navantia, a submarine-building company from Spain.

KD Tunku Abdul Rahman arrived in Malaysian waters in September 2009 from France and KD Tun Razak at the RMN base in Teluk Sepanggar, Sabah in July 2010.

Mohamad had said the maintenance cost would continue to increase when the submarines get older.