MAKASSAR, SOUTH SULAWESI, REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA, 8 June 2023 - The 4th Multinational Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK) 2023 was held from 4th to 8th June 2023 in Makassar, Indonesia, hosted by the Indonesian Navy (IDN). Two Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) officers, Lieutenant Commander Mohammad Shahrul Idham bin Haji Bungsu, Commanding Officer KDB BERKAT and Lieutenant Muhammad Adi Fakhri Johari, Navigating Officer KDB DARULAMAN, participated in the exercise this year.
This iteration of MNEK is themed “Partnership to Recover and to Rise Stronger". This biennial exercise is non-combative in nature focusing on operations other than war with the aim to strengthen the cooperation among the participating countries, improve operational preparedness and interoperability among the navies especially in dealing with humanitarian crisis and as a platform to share and exchange knowledge between participants.
The MNEK 2023 programme started with an ice breaking session and followed by an opening ceremony conducted at Soekarno-Hatta Port, Makassar. Present to officiate the event was Admiral Yudo Margono, Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian National Defence Force, Admiral Muhammad Ali, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy, Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman, Governor of South Sulawesi, and Mohammad Ramdhan Pomanto, the Mayor of Makassar.
The 4th MNEK also featured the Engineering Civil Action Programme (ENCAP) and Medical Civil Action Programme (MEDCAP) to reach out and help the local community. The ENCAP location visited the construction site of the MNEK Monument and the traditional Phinisi boat at Losari Beach Makassar. The MEDCAP was conducted at Barrang Lompa Island off the coast of Makassar. Health services such as general check-up, dental, cataract surgery and minor surgery were provided for the locals. Both ENCAP and MEDCAP were supported by the various participating navies such as the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Republic of Singapore Navy, the People's Liberation Army - Navy and the Republic of Korea Navy.
Aside from the representation of navy ships in the 4th MNEK, 5 countries also supported the event through the active participation of their officers. The next MNEK will be held in 2025.
