KUCHING: More areas, especially the interior of Sarawak, will be covered in future Pacific Partnership exercises, said Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir, United States ambassador to Malaysia.
“We wanted it to be longer, to survey the areas and help those in the rural areas. Unfortunately, we only have this short period of time,” she told journalists after the closing ceremony of the 2019 Pacific Partnership Exercise (Ex-PP19) here yesterday.
“Nevertheless, it was a good two-week exercise for us, to be here to provide humanitarian aid to the local community here.”
Meanwhile, Malaysian Armed Forces Joint Force Commander Lt-Gen Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zuki commended the Ex-PP19, saying knowledge was not only shared between both armies but also the communities here.
“They (Ex-PP19 members) also attended a workshop organised by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) to share, especially on how to deal with disaster issues, and what should and what should not be shared in the media.”
Lt-Gen Suhaimi also said the Engineering Civic Action Programme at SK Sambir and SK Sebandi Matang in Asajaya and SK Tanah Puteh in Serian, part of the Ex-PP19, helped in creating awareness among the primary school pupils about humanitarian work.
“Besides that, it’s also a good effort in terms of networking and partnership between the US and Malaysian militaries.”
Also present at the closing ceremony were Ex-PP19 Mission Commander Captain Randy Van Rossum and participants of the MPI workshop.
This was the second time the Ex-PP was held in Kuching. Prior to its fourth edition here, it was also held in Sabah and Kuantan, Pahang.
Some 150 Malaysian Armed Forces officers and personnel, and their counterparts from USNS Fall River, were involved in the exercise.
