KUCHING: A total of 493 soldiers from the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) will be taking part in a Keris Kartika Malaysia and Indonesia (Kekar Malindo) exercise in Sarawak from Nov 23 to Dec 1 this year.
The bilateral exercise involving the Malaysian Third Infantry Brigade and the 19th Infantry Brigade/Khatulistiwa, will be carried out around Sri Aman, Engkilili, Lubok Antu and Semanju.
A spokesman for the First Infantry Division said the opening ceremony was officiated by Third Brigade commander Brigadier General Mohd Kamil Haji Abdul Latiff and attended by KODAM XII/ Tanjungpura chief of staff Brigadier General TNI Djauhari, S. E. at Camp Pakit, Sri Aman on Tuesday (Nov 23).
“This annual exercise will involve two phases namely Command Post Exercise and Field Training Exercise.
“A total of 17 officers and 344 members of the 13th Battalion of the Royal Malay Army Regiment (13 RAMD) are representing MAF while, TNI is represented by the YONIF Raider 641 Bear team consisting of 10 officers along with 122 members of various ranks,” the spokesman said.
The objectives are to test commanders and staff officers in joint operations and to enhance the ability of both parties to carry out operations in the conventional warfare context.
In addition, it will also strengthen the spirit of camaraderie and close relations between the two countries as well as increase military preparedness to face any enemy threat.
