MUARA NAVAL BASE, MONDAY, 08 MAY 2023 - KDB DARUTTAQWA and KDB AFIAT set sail to embark on a 12-day deployment to participate in the 2nd ASEAN Multilateral Naval Exercise 2023 (AMNEX 2/2023) and the ASEAN Fleet Review (AFR) which will be held in Subic Bay in the Philippines from 11th to 16th May 2023.
Captain Khairil bin Haji Abd Rahman, Fleet Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), attended the send-off ceremony as the Guest of Honour. Also present during send-off ceremony were the RBN Executive Board, officers, other ranks, and family members of deployed personnel. The ceremony began with a prayer recital by Muhammad Sabqi bin Nasar, RBN Religious Teacher followed by deployed personnel bidding farewell to their families.
This deployment is led by the commanding officer of KDB DARUTTAQWA, Commander Malek Fadillah bin Pehin Dato Juragan Laila Diraja Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Kefli, RBN and the commanding officer of KDB AFIAT Lieutenant Commander Mohammad Husaini bin Hj Mohd Sofian, RBN. Both commanding officers are representing the Brunei contingent comprising of sixty-six (66) personnel from KDB DARUTTAQWA and thirty-two (32) personnel from KDB AFIAT which includes officers, crew, as well as attachments including a medical officer, religious personnel, and Naval Surface Action Group (NAVSAG) personnel.
Along with Brunei Darussalam, also expected to participate in AMNEX 2/2023 are Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The purpose of this exercise is to further strengthen the relations between ASEAN navies and enhance cooperation and interoperability. Participating navies will be involved in several programmes starting with the ASEAN Fleet Review, professional exchanges, cultural and recreational activities as well as friendly sports interactions. RBN's participation at AMNEX 2/2023 demonstrates Brunei's commitment to maintaining and strengthening the diplomatic ties with ASEAN countries through interaction and cooperation with our ASEAN counterparts.
