Malaysian navy holds intra-maritime exercise in South China, Sulu seas

The Malaysian navy held the intra-exercise from Aug 23 to Sept 1 on the South China and Sulu seas.

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian navy demonstrated its presence and capabilities in an annual naval exercise in the South China Sea and Sulu Sea from Aug 23 to Sept 1.

The exercise, codenamed Ostex East 2/2022 and coordinated by the Eastern Fleet Command, was the main platform for the naval forces to test the efficiency of the navy and the readiness of its assets in the eastern fleet.

This initiative was also implemented with the mission to prepare the navy for any eventuality of a maritime threat, besides enhancing the naval community’s skills in navigation, maritime knowledge and warfare.

According to a statement by the Malaysian navy on Thursday (Sept 1), the exercise also doubled up as a means to showcase its assets in Malaysian maritime zones, especially in the South China and Sulu seas.

Region 2 Commander, Rear Admiral Sazalee Shoib launched the Ostex East 2/2022 at the navy base here on Aug 23, with the first phase of the exercise involving activities such as briefings, operational discussions and practical training at the port.

Phase two of the exercise involved real-time maritime training from Aug 26 to 30 that saw 11 ships namely KD Selangor, KD Perak, KD Kelantan, KD Sundang, KD Badik, KD Rencong, KD Ganas, KD Buang, KD Todak and KD Jerong taking part.

The ships set sail across the South China Sea heading to the Sulu Sea before ending their journey at the Region 2 Base in the east coast Sandakan district.

Among the main activities carried out were surface warfare training, manoeuvre tactical training, static surface targeting training and helicopter landing on the ships.

This was also the inaugural involvement of the Maritime Helicopter Operation in these series of exercises.

In the closing ceremony, Eastern Fleet Command commander Vice Admiral Datuk Sabri Zali said the exercise provided an avenue for the eastern fleet, comprising its people, platform and process, to be tested to the highest level.

He said that the navy and the preparedness of the eastern fleet as well as the operational protocols and logistical capabilities must be improved to ensure they remained relevant and efficient.

“This intra-exercise will be continued to be implemented in line with the navy’s role which is to provide a fleet that is competent and ready,” he said.