Singapore and Malaysian Navies Conclude Bilateral Maritime Exercise

RSN Fleet Commander, Colonel Lew Chuen Hong (right) and RMN Fleet Commander VADM Dato' Mohamad Roslan bin Mohamad Ramli exchanging a handshake at the Opening Ceremony of Exercise Malapura.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) conducted Exercise Malapura, a bilateral maritime exercise, from 4 to 15 March 2015. RSN Fleet Commander Colonel Lew Chuen Hong and RMN Fleet Commander VADM Dato' Mohamad Roslan bin Mohamad Ramli were present at the closing ceremony held at RMN Maritime Tactical Centre in Lumut Naval Base, today.

Conducted since 1984, this year's Exercise Malapura involved about 600 personnel from the RSN and RMN. The exercise, hosted by Malaysia, also saw both navies carry out joint planning and training at Changi Naval Base (CNB), and conduct drills in conventional naval warfare and maritime security in the Malacca Strait. The RSN participated in the exercise with a frigate (RSS Stalwart), a missile corvette (RSS Victory), a patrol vessel (RSS Sovereignty) and a Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk Naval Helicopter. The RMN was represented by a frigate (KD Jebat), a corvette (KD Lekir), a patrol vessel (KD Kelantan) and a Super Lynx Helicopter.

The RSN and RMN interact regularly across a wide range of activities, which include bilateral exchanges and courses, as well as multilateral activities as part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). The two navies have also been working closely to enhance maritime security through the Malacca Strait Patrols. These regular interactions strengthen mutual understanding and professional ties among the personnel of both navies, and underscore the warm and long-standing defence ties between both navies.

The RSN and RMN ships sailing out from Lumut Naval Base to exercise at the Malacca Strait.