Thailand, Malaysia To Conduct Joint Disaster Relief Exercise In July

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- Come July, the Thai and Malaysian armed forces will hold a joint exercise on disaster relief and rescue, Joint Combined Exercise Thailand and Malaysia (JCEX THAMAL) in Kedah. According to the Director of Joint Operations Directorate Royal Thai Armed Forces Maj Gen Parinya Khunnasri, the joint exercise will increase cooperation between both armed forces when facing disasters. "JCEX THAMAL will be about disaster rescue and relief matters, such as in the case of building or road collapse, chemical leakage, medical assistance and others," he told reporters here yesterday. Officers from the two armed forces, he said, would convene a meeting in Hatyai, southern Thailand this week to discuss and prepare on the upcoming joint exercises. -- BERNAMA