| Hakim Hayat & Siti Hajar |
HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), yesterday morning took a closer look at the multi-national joint military drill currently taking place under the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) framework.
Approximately 3,000 troops, 17 ships, 15 helicopters, two maritime patrol aircraft along with Special Forces from the 18 nations are taking part in the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism (MS & CT) Exercise which will run until May 12.
Co-hosted by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), this is the first maritime security and counter-terrorism exercise under the ADMM-Plus framework after the success of the ADMM-Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine (ADMM-Plus HADR & MM) Exercise in 2013.
This edition of the ADMM-Plus MS & CT Exercise aims to facilitate collaboration in maritime security and counterterrorism as well as promote information-sharing in responding to various exercise scenarios.
ADMM-Plus comprises all 10 Asean member states and its dialogue partners – China, the US, India, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Russia.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, with Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office; First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Deputy Minister of Defence; and Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, Commander of the RBAF viewing the multi-national joint military drill
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, in a group photo
His Majesty at the Operation Centre of the Multi-National Coordination Centre. – PHOTOS: AZROL AZMI, BAHYIAH BAKIR & DEAN KASSIM
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, receiving a pesambah
His Majesty with Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, the Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office; and First Admi-ral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Deputy Minister of Defence, during the luncheon
ABOVE & BELOW: Scenes during the Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism Exercise
On arrival at the Multi-National Coordination Centre (MNCC) near the Muara Naval Base, His Majesty was welcomed by Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office; First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Deputy Minister of Defence; and Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, Commander of the RBAF; as well as leaders of Asean Defence Senior Officials Meeting (ADSOM) and its dialogue partners.
At the MNCC, His Majesty witnessed coordination work between military personnel from different countries in tacking crisis situations played out in the exercise scenarios.
The monarch later heard a welcoming remark by the RBAF Commander as well as an exercise briefing delivered by Exercise Co-Director (Brunei), Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat, Joint Force Commander of the RBAF.
His Majesty later boarded an RBAF S-70i Blackhawk helicopter to have an aerial view of all the ADMM-Plus naval vessels involved in the exercise in the Brunei waters before landing on Brunei’s navy vessel KDB Daruttaqwa which is also taking part in the exercise.
Onboard the KDB Daruttaqwa, His Majesty was welcomed by the Co-Chair (Brunei) of ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security (EWG MS), Lieutenant Colonel (L) Haji Othman bin Haji Suhaily @ Suhaili, Deputy Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN). While onboard the ship, His Majesty witnessed the simulation of a ship assault involving the Special Forces of the ADMM-Plus countries.
After the simulation exercise, His Majesty took another flight and landed on the Japanese JDS Ise DDH-182, the second of two Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer of the Japanese Navy that is on anchor in Brunei waters.
The monarch concluded his visit with a luncheon with Defence Executive Committee members, ADSOM-Plus leaders and representatives, heads of delegation of the ADMM-Plus MS & CT Exercise and senior officials involved in the drill.
His Majesty also received a pesambah and signed on a parchment to mark his visit.
During the exercise, some tactical operations will be conducted at sea en-route to Singapore where the drill will conclude with a Counter Terrorism scenario.
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