Singapore and Malaysian Armies Conclude Bilateral Military Exercise

Chief of Army of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi bin Raja Mohamed Noor (left), and Chief of Army, Brigadier-General Melvyn Ong (right), co-officiating at the closing ceremony of Exercise Semangat Bersatu.

The Chief of Army of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Brigadier-General (BG) Melvyn Ong, and the Chief of Army of the Malaysian Armed Forces, General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi bin Raja Mohamed Noor, co-officiated at the closing ceremony of Exercise Semangat Bersatu this morning.

This year's exercise, conducted in Singapore from 2 to 17 November, is the 21st edition in the series and involved around 575 personnel from both the 3rd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment, and the 10th Royal Malay Regiment. The exercise included professional exchanges and culminated in a combined battalion field exercise. In his closing speech, BG Ong commended the participants for building the "professionalism, friendship and good spirit of the soldiers from both countries", and highlighted that "the mutual understanding among commanders and soldiers will strengthen our bilateral defence relationship". BG Ong added that the SAF is looking forward to the next edition of the exercise in Malaysia next year. 

First held in 1989, Exercise Semangat Bersatu provides an excellent opportunity for both armies to strengthen their professional interactions and underscores the warm and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and Malaysia.

SAF and MAF soldiers interacting over weapons technical handling during the exercise.

SAF and MAF soldiers training together during the finale mission of the battalion field training exercise.