NEW ZEALAND, Sunday 22 March 2015 – The Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah made a brief visit to New Zealand on 22 March 2015. The visit was upon the invitation of Massey University.
Massey University Strategic Advisory Board Meeting (SAB) was held at Custom House, Massey University Wellington New Zealand. On arrival at the Custom House, Yang Dimuliakan Pehin was received by Executive Committee before proceeding to a meeting room.
Apart from looking at progress of the University, SAB also charts potential disciplines for the University’s long term growth.
During his brief visit, Yang Dimuliakan Pehin also made a bilateral discussion with Vice Chancellor Hon Steve Maharey. Among agenda discussed are on bilateral defence relations between the two organisation. The Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam sealed a contract with Massey University as an academic service provider for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Command and Staff Course (CSC). This course has been in the running since November 2010 and is now in its 5th course.
CSC is one of the mandatory courses for RBAF middle level management officer with the rank of a Major. Apart from RBAF, CSC is opened and participated by friendly allies from all over the world including ASEAN, Northeast Asia, Europe, the US, Middle East and South Asia. It is aimed at elevating the standard of knowledge base and professionalism among middle rank officers in line with the objectives of Ministry of Defence as per stipulated in Defence White Papers.
Yang Dimuliakan Pehin made a courtesy calls to his counterpart, General Tim Keating Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force. The two CDF’s reflected on bilateral defence co-operation between the two countries, regional and international issues. The call by Yang Dimuliakan Pehin took place at New Zealand Defence Force HQ at Wellington, New Zealand.
Brunei Darussalam and New Zealand established diplomatic relations on 5th May 1984. Both countries have enjoyed good and friendly ties with cooperation in trade, health, education and defence. In 2013, Brunei Darussalam hosted ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus. New Zealand has actively involved in the meeting and took part in the ARMM HADR/MM Exercise held in Brunei Darussalam. Yang Dimuliakan Pehin left Wellington on 24 March 2015.
