Minister of State for Defence Witnesses Conduct of Maritime Security Operations at Exercise APEX

Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman (2nd from right), accompanied by Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Lai Chung Han (3rd from right), receiving a brief on Exercise APEX on board the RSN's Mine Countermeasure Vessel, RSS Punggol.

Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman visited Exercise APEX at the Changi Command and Control Centre (CC2C) earlier today where he was briefed by the Commander of Maritime Security Task Force Rear-Admiral Giam Hock Koon. Exercise APEX is part of a series of annual operational readiness drills to exercise inter-agency responses in the conduct of maritime security operations. This year's exercise, held from 27 October to 6 November 2014, is led by the Singapore Armed Forces' Maritime Security Task Force and involves more than 900 personnel from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Singapore Maritime Crisis Centre, Singapore Police Coast Guard, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, and Singapore Customs.

As part of the visit, Dr Maliki went to the Southern Islands Live-Firing Area where he witnessed participating agencies disrupting a simulated small boat terrorist threat and an attempted land infiltration from the sea. Dr Maliki also went on board an RSN Mine Countermeasure Vessel, RSS Punggol, where he observed the ship's ability to neutralise a sea mine threat using the Expendable Mine Disposal System.

Speaking after the visit, Dr Maliki underscored the importance of having continued vigilance against terrorist threats to ensure our sea lines are kept safe. He said, "It is very important that we continue to ensure the security of our sea lines, and the security of Singaporeans. One critical factor that has worked is the ability for different agencies to come together and galvanise their resources to ensure this security."

Dr Maliki (2nd from right) witnessing the conduct of the exercise out at sea.

Assets from the participating agencies in action.