Over 500 M'sian Military Personnel Benefited From Canadian Military Exercise - Sajjan

PORT KLANG (Klang, Selangor) April 26 (Bernama) -- More than 500 Malaysian military personnel had undergone various military training exercises sponsored by Canada and this has further boosted the military cooperation between both countries, said Canada’s National Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan. He said all of them had undergone training under Canada's Military Training Cooperation Programme (MTCP) since 1966. "In view of the 60th bilateral ties between Malaysia and Canada, we have military training cooperation agreement and we want to look at how we can even further strengthen the (military) relationship," he told a media conference on board Her Majesty's Canadian ship, Winnipeg at Boustead Cruise Centre here Tuesday. Canada’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Judith St.George also attended the function. Sajjan is on an a three-day official visit to Malaysia (until Wednesday) in conjunction with the port call of two Royal Canadian Navy frigates in Port Klang, namely Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships Ottawa and Winnipeg. The visit would also commemorate the 60th anniversary of Canada-Malaysia relations, as well as the 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada. Sajjan, who is in his maiden visit to Malaysia said besides being a maritime nation, Malaysia and Canada shared many similarities and home to diverse population and also rich in natural resources. Meanwhile, Canadian Defence Attache accredited to Malaysia, Colonel Janine Knackstedt, said the Malaysian military personnel had undergone military training at Peacekeeping Training Centre located in Port Dickson and also similar training centres in Canada, Indonesia and the Philippines. She said the programme is offered to Malaysian armed personnel especially those in the Defence ministry as well as civilians working in the ministry. "This year we have offered 54 positions where training is held all year long. There is a range of military courses on peace, security, integrity and professionalism," she said. The media later was taken on a tour and treated at a reception on board the Winnipeg. --BERNAMA