BOOSTING MALACCA STRAIT SECURITY THROUGH INFORMATION SHARING EXERCISE

The fight against maritime terrorism in the Malacca Strait is a demanding one that requires littoral states to be vigilant and ready at all times. The Malacca Strait Patrols (MSP) must therefore continue to find ways to improve and make its systems more robust, said Chief of Staff-Naval Staff, and Head Naval Operations, Rear-Admiral Tan Wee Beng, at the opening ceremony of the Malacca Strait Patrols Information Sharing Exercise on 30 Jun.

The second edition of this exercise is being held from 29 Jun to 1 Jul, at the Multinational Operations and Exercises Centre in the Changi Command and Control Centre. The inaugural exercise was held in March 2008 at Tuas Naval Base.

On the exercise objectives, Exercise Director Colonel Jackson Chia, who is also Commander of the Maritime Security Task Force, said: "The climate for open dialogue helps to create the conditions for rich exchange and sharing of practises, knowledge and experiences."

He added that the exercise also helps participants to "develop and practise common procedures, as well as develop equipment compatibility to communicate and interoperate effectively".

Involving about 50 participants from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, this year's exercise will test the operational collaboration of the exercise participants through simulations of possible threat situations, such as sea robberies, arms smuggling and terrorism.

Said Chief Exercise Planner Major (MAJ) Ricky Law, who is also Head Operations Planning Branch, Maritime Security Task Force: "Such scenarios give us a realistic environment, and prepares us on how to coordinate and share information with other countries for a collective response."

"It helps us refine our working processes, so when we go back to our individual countries, we can then better interoperate, share information and collaborate."

Commander Mohd Zulkiflee bin Haji Markam from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) added: "Another benefit of the exercise is that it exposes our RMN operators to the information sharing systems used in the region."

Lieutenant Commander Apichart Kabwong, a Communication Section Officer from the Royal Thai Navy, also commented that the learning points from this exercise can be applied to other maritime emergencies as well.

"Back in Thailand, we often experience oil spills and ship sinking incidents. I'm sure what I learnt during the exercise can also be applied to such situations back home."

For most participants whom cyberpioneer spoke to, the interaction during the exercise helps to gel cooperation between the various countries.

Commander Mohd Zulkiflee, who is the Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the RMN Fleet Operational Command Headquarters, told cyberpioneer: "It's good that we can work together face to face, rather than through telephone or online channels. Being able to meet the personnel from the various navies helps to enhance our understanding of one another."

At this year's exercise were also members of the maritime shipping community, such as Mr Jim Cripps from Shell Eastern Trading (Pte) Ltd.

"Maritime security for us as an international trading oil and gas shipping company is at the top of our priority. To be able to meet the people protecting our sea lanes, and to share with them what we do, it will help to better identify threats posed to us, and that can only be good for us," said the Regional Shipping and Marine Manager (East).

Expressing his observations about the exercise so far, Mr Cripps said: "The navies have managed to work together very well. I'm impressed by their professionalism and ability to share information with one another."

"It's looking to be a huge success so far, and long may it continue."