TUTONG, Thursday 23 April 2015 – The Second Minister for Defence, Republic of Singapore, Mr Lui Tuck Yew and Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, Deputy Minister of Defence visited the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF) and Singapore Army (SA) troops participating in the week-long Exercise MAJU BERSAMA and Exercise RINTIS BERSAMA.
Also present during the visit were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Datin Paduka Hjh Suriyah binti Hj Umar, Acting Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit; Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technology), Haji Azhar bin Ahmad, and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy & Development), Awg Abu Sufian bin Haji Ali, Singapore Chief of Army, Major-General Perry Lim, senior officers of the Ministry of Defence and RBAF and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
On arrival of the Second Minister for Defence, Republic of Singapore and Deputy Defence Minister at the Air Movement Center (AMC), Brigadier General Pg Dato Paduka Aminan bin Pg Haji Mahmud, Commander of RBLF delivered his welcoming remarks while the EXCON Briefing was delivered by Colonel Haji Muhd Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Deputy Commander RBLF and Director of Exercise MAJU BERSAMA.
After the presentations, Mr Lui and Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa headed to the ongoing operations site of Exercise MAJU BERSAMA in Ulu Benutan, Tutong. The enemy operation briefing was presented by Captain Fakhrul Ammar, Chief Opposition at the camp site whom described the Exercise Operation scenarios that was underway.
During their visit, Mr Lui and Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa witnessed an assault and interacted with the troops from the 2nd Battalion RBLF and 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards (3 Gds). Mr Lui and Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa also had the opportunity to unveil the Exercise MAJU BERSAMA 20th Anniversary Plaque.
This year marks the 20th anniversary for the Exercise MAJU BERSAMA. The exercise succeeded in fostering closer diplomatic ties between the two forces besides strengthening mutual cooperation. The exercise provides a good platform for personnel of the two armies to interact with each other, and better understand and cooperate with each other. Since its inception in 1995, Exercise MAJU BERSAMA has provided for exchanges of professional experience and expertise between the SAF and the RBLF. The exercise was formerly known as Termite exercises, Flaming Arrow, Dragon Ball and BRUSING. RBLF takes turn in hosting the exercise with SA.
Subsequently, Exercise RINTIS BERSAMA was also conducted which involved Combat Engineer Squadron, Support Battalion, RBLF (CES Spt Bn) and 30 Singapore Combat Engineer, Singapore Armed Forces (30 SCE SAF). Exercise RINTIS BERSAMA is an exercise involving SJT Bn RBLF and SCE SAF and became known as Exercise BOLD CASTLE which dates back to 1989. This exercise gave exposure to members of the military of both countries on the readiness, capability and professionalism. These interactions have enhanced the interoperability between the two armies and have contributed significantly to the close and long-standing defence ties between Singapore and Brunei.
Photos Courtesy of SAF
TUTONG, Khamis 23 April 2015 – Menteri Pertahanan Kedua, Republik Singapura, Tuan Lui Tuck Yew dan Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan mengadakan lawatan pasukan tentera dari Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei (TDDB) dan Tentera Singapura (SA) yang mengambil bahagian dalam Eksesais MAJU BERSAMA dan Eksesais RINTIS BERSAMA.
Turut hadir bagi lawatan tersebut ialah Setiausaha Tetap Kementerian Pertahanan, Datin Paduka Hajah Suriyah binti Haji Umar, Pemangku Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Dirja Brunei (ABDB), Laksamana Pertama Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Timbalan Setiausaha Tetap (Teknologi), Haji Azhar bin Ahmad, dan Timbalan Setiausaha Tetap (Dasar & Pembangunan Pertahanan), Awang Abu Sufian bin Haji Ali serta pegawai-pegawai Kementerian Pertahanan dan ABDB dan juga Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Singapura (ABRS).
Sejurus ketibaan Menteri Pertahanan Kedua Republik Singapura dan Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan di Pusat Pergerakan Udara (AMC), Brigadier Jeneral Pg Dato Paduka Aminan bin Pg Haji Mahmud Pemerintah TDDB menyampaikan kata-kata aluan dan kemudiannya Taklimat EXCON disampaikan oleh Kolonel Haji Muhd Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan Timbalan Pemerintah TDDB selaku Pengarah Eksesais Maju Bersama.
Selepas sesi taklimat, Menteri Pertahanan Kedua Republik Singapura dan Pemangku Menteri Pertahanan bergerak ke kawasan operasi Eksesais Maju Bersama yang sedang dijalankan di Ulu Benutan, Tutong.
Taklimat operasi musuh disampaikan oleh Kapten Fakhrul Ammar, Ketua Musuh di khemah tersebut bagi menggambarkan senario Operasi Eksesais yang sedang giat dijalankan.
Dalam lawatan tersebut, Tuan Lui dan Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa menyaksikan aksi serangan dan seterusnya berinteraksi dengan para anggota tentera dari Batalion ke-2 TDDB dan Batalion ke-3 ‘Singapora Guards’ (3 Gds). Tuan Lui dan Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa juga berkesempatan untuk melancarkan Plaka Ulang Tahun Eksesais Latihan MAJU BERSAMA Ke-20.
Eksesais MAJU BERSAMA pada tahun ini merupakan eksesais kali ke 20 tahun. Ianya adalah latihan dua hala diantara TDDB dan ABRS yang bermula sejak tahun 1995. Eksesais ini mula dikenali dengan Eksesais Termite, Flaming Arrow, Dragon Ball dan BRUSING. TDDB dan ABRS menjadi tuan rumah secara bergilir–gilir, dan kali ini ianya dihoskan oleh pihak Brunei.
Pada tahun ini juga Eksesais RINTIS BERSAMA dijalankan secara serentak dan melibatkan Skuadron Jurutera Tempur, Batalion Bantu, TDDB (SJT Bn Bantu TDDB) dan 30 anggota Jurutera Tempur Singapura, ABRS. Eksesais RINTIS BERSAMA mula dikenali dengan Eksesais BOLD CASTLE yang bermula sejak tahun 1989.
Latihan ini memberikan pendedahan kepada anggota-anggota tentera dari kedua-dua negara tentang kelengkapan, keupayaan dan profesionalisma. Interaksi ini telah mempertingkatkan operasi antara kedua-dua tentera dan memberi sumbangan besar kepada hubungan pertahanan yang rapat dan lama antara Brunei dan Singapura.