Over 300 Malaysian, Australian Soldiers Participating In Haringgaroo Exercise

IPOH (Perak, Malaysia), Sept 13 (Bernama) -- A total of 319 members of the Malaysian and Australian armies are participating in a joint exercise dubbed ‘Haringgaroo Exercise Series 68’ around Ipoh and Sungai Siput (both are in Malaysian state Perak). Second Division headquarters chief of staff, Colonel Mohd Adzahar Abd Latiff said that the 12-day exercise, which began Monday, was a bilateral collaboration between the two countries in strengthening ties to maintain peace in the Asian region. He said the exercise was held to give the soldiers of both countries the exposure and opportunity to exchange their views and experiences in the military field. “This exercise focuses on counter-insurgency, jungle warfare and special military operations to promote a common understanding,” he told reporters after the launch of the Syed Putra Royal Ranger Regiment Camp officiated by 1st Division Commander Major General Paul Mclachan here Tuesday. Mohd Adzahar said the exercise was fully controlled by the 2nd Infantry Brigade Headquarters involving the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment in collaboration with Rifle Company Butterworth (an Australian Army Infantry Military Company) based at Butterworth, in northern state Penang. The military training was the result of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) and the Malaysia-Australia Joint Defence Programme held since 1992. Meanwhile, Mclachan said the exercise was held for the second time after that in Jeli, Kelantan (in east coast Malaysia) two years ago. “This gives the soldiers the opportunity to gather information on military skills from one another and this is the only way for us to ensure national security in serving the people in the region,” he said. -- BERNAMA