FPDA to Embark on Humanitarian Assistance of Disaster Relief Exercise

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Bernama) -- The Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) will embark on inter-regional military cooperation at the Suman Protector Exercise in October, which would include the Humanitarian Assistance of Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise. FPDA, comprising five countries namely Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand and United Kingdom, held its defence chiefs' conference here on Monday, with each country pledging to participate in the exercise, held once every five years. Malaysian Defence Forces Chief General Zulkefli Mohd Zin said FPDA members reaffirmed their commitment and recognised the important role that FPDA had played in enhancing regional security and stability. He said that among issues discussed in the meeting were the method to be taken to move FPDA foward, and the planning of several military excercises in the next few years. "We also endorsed several reports presented to us by various communities," he told reporters at the end of the one-day conference here on Monday. Formed in 1971, the FPDA is an important aspect of the regional security architecture. Also present were the defence forces chiefs of Australia (General David Hurley), New Zealand (Lieutenant-General Rhys Jones), Singapore (Lieutenant- General Neo Kian Hong) and the representative of the United Kingdom's Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Stuart Peach. The Suman Protector Exercise was last held in Butterworth in 2007, and it was one of a series of joint level exercises involving armed forces from the FPDA. Personnel from FPDA nations had operated within a Combined Joint Task Force Headquarters, along with Maritime, Air, Land and Logistics Component, against a conventional war scenario. Neo said the Suman Protector Exercise would be different this time, as it would incorporate the HADR and with a new Air and Naval dimension. "It would provide us, not only with conventional operation but also non-conventional operation," he said. Jones said his country was interested in how the military could be more effective in maintaining stability in the region, and in the years to come. Peach said the United Kingdom was always committed to FPDA training. -- BERNAMA