BY GILLVEN MIXCOLLIN
KUCHING: The Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) made a powerful impression on the city residents with an exclusive one-day event at Pending Port here today (May 25), coinciding with the OSTEX EAST (Operational Sea Training Exercise East) Series 1/2024 naval exercise.
TLDM held an engaging open day by showcasing its maritime prowess as part of the OSTEX EAST Series 1/2024 from 8.30 am to 4 pm.
Lieutenant Commander Hijiril Aswad Wahid of the Royal Malaysian Navy stated that the main purpose of this event was to show the presence of the TLDM in Sarawak and foster closer ties between the TLDM and the local community.
“The main purpose is to bring the Sarawakians closer to TLDM and as you know, TLDM does not have many assets in Sarawak, so we take this opportunity to close the OSTEX Series 1/2024 event in Kuching,” he said.
“The vessels on display included two new generation patrol vessels, KD Kelantan and KD Kedah, three Fast Attack Craft (KD Jerong, KD Yu, and KD Pari), and two Littoral Mission Ships (KD Keris and KD Badik),” he said.
The exercise included various phases and ended with the War Exercise (WAREX) phase, providing a rare opportunity for Kuching residents to tour the naval ships and interact with TLDM personnel.
“Normally, if we hold a Navy Day at the naval base in Kota Kinabalu, the number of attendees is around 30,000 and as for this event, we estimate around 5,000 visitors,” he said.
Despite the lower turnout compared to past events in Tawau, the engagement from the city residents was positive.
In addition to ship tours, TLDM utilised social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to promote the event, reaching out to TLDM members and the broader Sarawakian community.
The successful open day at Pending Port highlighted TLDM’s commitment to engaging with local communities and displayed the strength and capabilities of the Royal Malaysian Navy.
