Singapore and Malaysian Navies Conduct Bilateral Maritime Exercise

RSN Fleet Commander Rear-Admiral Lew Chuen Hong (right) and RMN Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Dato' Mohamad Roslan bin Mohamad Ramli at the opening ceremony of Exercise Malapura in Changi Naval Base.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) are conducting Exercise Malapura, a bilateral maritime exercise, from 22 February to 3 March 2016. The opening ceremony was jointly officiated by RSN Fleet Commander Rear-Admiral Lew Chuen Hong and RMN Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Dato' Mohamad Roslan bin Mohamad Ramli on 22 February 2016 at Changi Naval Base (CNB). The closing ceremony will be held on 3 March at RMN Maritime Tactical Centre in Lumut Naval Base.

Conducted since 1984, this year's Exercise Malapura involves about 650 personnel from the RSN and RMN. The exercise, hosted by the RSN, saw both navies carry out joint planning and training at CNB, and conduct drills in conventional naval warfare and maritime security in the Malacca Strait. The RSN is participating in the exercise with a frigate (RSS Supreme), a missile corvette (RSS Victory), a patrol vessel (RSS Freedom) and a Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter. The RMN is represented by a frigate (KD Jebat), a corvette (KD Kasturi), a patrol vessel (KD Selangor) 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 under the ambit 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 RMN's Super Lynx helicopter conducting landing drills on the flight deck of the RSN's frigate (RSS Supreme).