PH, Malaysia navies hold joint maritime drills

A worker adjusts an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) flag at a meeting hall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Oct. 28, 2021. The Philippines and Malaysia are both Asean members. (File photo by LIM HUEY TENG / Reuters)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy (PN) is holding weeklong maritime exercises with the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) to enhance combined planning, tactical and operational level training, and level up interoperability.

Two RMN ships — KD Selangor (F176), the new generation patrol vessel of RMN and KD Sundang (112), a littoral mission ship — arrived in Davao City on Sunday to participate in the drills dubbed as Malphi Laut 24/23, the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) said in a statement.

“This exercise demonstrates the navies’ collaboration, interoperability and preparedness in any situation or challenge that may arise in this dynamic maritime domain,” Commodore Carlos Sabarre, commander of the NFEM, said during the opening ceremony on Monday.

The drills, which run from Sept. 4 to 8, will involve sailors and naval special operations forces from the Philippines and Malaysia operating jointly on land, air, and sea.

“The PN and RMN are committed to strengthen its long-standing alliance, reinforce maritime security efforts and address common border threats and challenges,” the NFEM said.

Meanwhile, the Naval Forces Central in Cebu will host maritime exercises with Indonesia later this month. The maritime training activity Philindo 20/23 will be held from Sept. 24 to Sept. 30 in Cebu City and in the waters southwest off Negros Oriental.

—FRANCES MANGOSING