KOTA KINABALU, 23–25 Oktober 2025 - Pemerintah Armada Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (TLDB), Komander Sonny Iskandar bin Rasani, TLDB, telah mengadakan lawatan kerja ke Pangkalan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) Kota Kinabalu sempena Eksesais HORNBILL 30/25.
Semasa lawatan tersebut, Komander Sonny Iskandar telah membuat kunjungan hormat kepada Timbalan Pemerintah Armada Timur, Laksamana Pertama Erman Shahril bin Adlan, TLDM. Kunjungan ini menzahirkan hubungan kerjasama erat dan berterusan antara TLDB dan TLDM. Kedua-dua pihak turut bertukar cenderamata sebagai tanda penghargaan dan simbol keakraban dalam kerjasama maritim dua hala yang telah lama terjalin.
Lawatan turut disusuli dengan Majlis Penutupan Eksesais HORNBILL 30/25 yang disempurnakan oleh Timbalan Pemerintah Armada Timur. Majlis turut menyaksikan pertukaran cenderamata antara Pegawai Pemerintah kapal yang terlibat, diikuti dengan ucapan daripada Pemerintah Armada TLDB. Dalam ucapannya, Komander Sonny Iskandar menekankan bahawa eksesais ini bukan sekadar latihan taktikal, tetapi mencerminkan kepercayaan bersama, komitmen strategik dan keupayaan operasi tinggi antara kedua-dua angkatan laut. Beliau turut merakamkan penghargaan kepada semua yang terlibat serta menegaskan bahawa kejayaan Eksesais HORNBILL 30/25 membuktikan kemampuan teknikal dan kerjasama erat yang telah terbina lebih empat dekad antara Brunei Darussalam dan Malaysia.
Pada sebelah malam, kedua-dua angkatan laut turut menghadiri Malam Akrab, majlis ramah mesra bagi meraikan kejayaan pelaksanaan eksesais. Dalam ucapannya, Komander Sonny Iskandar menzahirkan penghargaan kepada TLDM atas layanan mesra dan penganjuran yang cemerlang, serta mengucapkan tahniah kerana berjaya mengekalkan kejuaraan Piala HORNBILL. Beliau turut menekankan bahawa kemesraan dan semangat setiakawan yang ditonjolkan sepanjang eksesais dan majlis tersebut mencerminkan hubungan akrab antara TLDB dan TLDM. Beliau mengakhiri ucapannya dengan keyakinan bahawa hubungan erat ini akan terus diperkukuh dalam usaha bersama memelihara keamanan dan kestabilan maritim serantau, sambil menutup dengan ucapan tradisi laut, “Fair Wind and Following Sea.”
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ROYAL BRUNEI NAVY FLEET COMMANDER MAKES WORKING VISIT TO RMN KOTA KINABALU NAVAL BASE IN CONJUNCTION WITH EXERCISE HORNBILL 30/25
KOTA KINABALU, 23–25 October 2025 - The Fleet Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), Commander Sonny Iskandar bin Rasani, RBN, made a working visit to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Kota Kinabalu Naval Base in conjunction with Exercise HORNBILL 30/25.
During the visit, Commander Sonny Iskandar paid a courtesy call to the Deputy Eastern Fleet Commander, First Admiral Erman Shahril bin Adlan, RMN. The engagement underscored the close and enduring cooperation between the Royal Brunei Navy and the Royal Malaysian Navy. Both leaders also exchanged mementos as a gesture of mutual respect and continued maritime partnership.
The visit continued with the Exercise HORNBILL 30/25 Closing Ceremony, officiated by the Deputy Eastern Fleet Commander. The ceremony featured an exchange of mementos between the Commanding Officers of participating ships, followed by remarks from the RBN Fleet Commander. In his address, Commander Sonny Iskandar underscored that the exercise serves not only as a tactical platform but as a reflection of mutual trust, strategic partnership, and operational excellence between both navies. He commended the professionalism and seamless coordination displayed throughout the exercise and expressed appreciation to all involved, noting that the success of Exercise HORNBILL 30/25 demonstrates both navies’ strong technical capability and over four decades of enduring bilateral cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia.
In the evening, both navies came together for Malam Akrab, a fellowship dinner celebrating the successful conclusion of the exercise. During the event, Commander Sonny expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Royal Malaysian Navy for their warm hospitality and congratulated RMN for hosting and retaining the HORNBILL Challenge Trophy. He emphasised that the camaraderie and spirit of togetherness displayed throughout the exercise and during the dinner reflect the strong bonds and mutual respect shared between the two naval forces. He concluded by reaffirming RBN’s commitment to further strengthen ties with RMN in maintaining maritime peace, stability, and cooperation — ending with the naval blessing, “Fair Wind and Following Sea.”
