KDB DARUTTAQWA made a logistic port of call to Belawan in Medan, Indonesia on 4 December 2021 after completing the first ASEAN-Russia Naval Exercise (ARNEX) 2021. As the exercise took place in the North of Sumatra, the Royal Brunei Navy took the opportunity to send donations for the Aceh community in Indonesia upon KDB DARUTTAQWA’s return voyage to Brunei Darussalam. The donations were initially handed over to KDB DARUTTAQWA from the Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Spry bin Haji Serudi @Seruji prior to KDB DARUTTAQWA’s departure from Muara Naval Base on 25 November 2021.
KDB DARUTTAQWA was welcomed by staff members of the Office of Defence Attaché of Brunei Darussalam to the Republic of Indonesia and members of Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI). In line with COVID-19 guidelines and precautions, there were no physical interactions between the crew onboard and personnel in attendance at Belawan Port as all logistic requirements were conducted in a contactless manner.
The donations were handed over to the Office of Defence Attaché (DA) of Brunei Darussalam to the Republic of Indonesia by utilising a crane to transfer the donations directly from the ship’s flight deck to the jetty. The Defence Attaché staff members were entrusted to distribute the goodwill gesture donations consisting of Yassin Books, Al-Qurans, prayer mats, as well as office/educational tools to the Regional Military Command and Pesantren Miftahul Fatayat, an Islamic boarding school in Aceh.
