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MUARA NAVAL BASE, Friday, 08 September 2022 – The Exercise SEMBILANG Series 17/23, which began on Monday, 4th of September 2023, has officially concluded with a closing ceremony at Dewan Nakhoda, Naval Training Center (NTC), Muara. This exercise involved participation from the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) as this year’s host, Marine Police, Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) and the invited officers from the Judge Advocate General (JAG).

Present as the Guest of Honour was Deputy Director of Operation, Royal Brunei Police Force, SSP Pg Muhaimin bin Pg Hj Mustapha. Also present during the closing ceremony was the Fleet Chief of Staff, Commander Saiful Hazril bin Hj Ali, RBN, officers from JAG as well as personnel from RBN and RBPF that were involved in this year’s series of the exercise.

The ceremony began with a summarised report of this year’s exercise delivered by the Exercise Patron, Lieutenant Commander Mohd Husaini bin Hj Mohd Sofian, RBN. This report included the highlights of the three main phases and the agendas of the exercise – namely, the discussion sessions, the table top, and boarding workshop during the Harbour phase on the 4^th and 5^th September 2023, the practical Sea Phase followed by the Hot Wash Up session executed on the 6^th September 2023, and the Closing Phase comprising the Dinner Night on the 6^th September and the sports interaction, the SEMBILANG Cup on 7^th September. The SEMBILANG Cup involved friendly matches of futsal, volleyball and the tug of war between both parties where the RBN won the Cup this year.

This year’s series focused on combined boarding operation based on complex and dynamic scenarios. This was followed by a report signing and a video showcasing the exercise that was prepared by the coordinating committee. The ceremony then proceeded with exchanges of plaques between the Commander Task Unit (CTU) Lieutenant Commander Mohd Husaini bin Hj Mohd Sofian, RBN and Deputy Commander Task Unit (DCTU); DSP Kasnol bin Hj Muhammad Kincho, Exercise Coordinator; Lieutenant Nur Mazarina binti Marzlan, RBN and 2IC of Marine Police RBPF; ASP Abdul Hafizazuddin bin Hj Abdul Wahab as well as between Officer Commanding Operations NAVSAG RBN; Lieutenant Wan Izz Zafir Alawi bin Kassim, RBN and Special Operations Unit RBPF Officer; INSP Nyaring Anak Jaya. A token of appreciation was also presented to the JAG representative; Major Nabil Suhairridhwan bin Awang by the Assistant Coordinator of the exercise; Lieutenant Farasul Wa’ie bin Wadi, RBN for their contribution towards the productive operation discussions and information sharing throughout the exercise.

The ceremony concluded with the deactivation of the Combined Task Group 17 (CTG 17) that was officiated by SSP Pg Muhaimin bin Pg Hj Mustapha marking the end of the 17^th Series of Exercise SEMBILANG 2023 between RBN and RBPF. All planned events were conducted and executed successfully throughout the exercise which resulted in beneficial outcomes for both organisations. Both organisations managed to share and exchange experiences and knowledge which represented the core objective of the exercise. This exercise led to an enhancement of the interoperability and mutual understandings found between RBN and the Marine Police, RBPF, which overall is hoped to contribute to the capability of both organisations in maintaining the sovereignty of Brunei Darussalam’s waters.