NOTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT JT MILITARY EXERCISE

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- The joint exercise involving the
Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and those of 10 other countries would not bring
about a negative perception, Deputy Defence Minister Abu Seman Yusop
said Wednesday.

He said the ATM had so far, undergone various joint exercises with
Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines, Pakistan, United States and
with countries under the Five-Power Defence Arrangement comprising Malaysia,
Singapore, New Zealand, Australia and United Kingdom.

Abu Seman said, through such joint exercises, ATM personnel would get the
exposure to enhance their skills, besides mutual exchange of experience in terms
of tactical efficiency and warfare operation.

He was replying to a question from Mohamad Aziz, a MP during
the Lower House of Parliament sitting here Wednesday.

Mohamad wanted to know if there was a guarantee that countries which
conducted joint exercises with ATM would not attack Malaysia, and whether such
exercises would jeopardise the country's national defence secrets.

Abu Seman said the joint exercises would not only establish diplomatic
relations but also paved the way for further military cooperation involving
Malaysia and the countries.

-- BERNAMA