BUTTERWORTH – The Joint Forces Headquarters today launched the Bersama Gold 2021 Exercise online, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Its Commander Lt Gen Datuk Yazid Arshad said that the exercise was significant in conjunction with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) this year, and Malaysia was given the honour to host the event.
“The assets involved are 25 fighter jets, six support aircraft, six helicopters, 10 warships and one submarine in Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, from Oct 8 to 18.
“Apart from that, some 2,000 military personnel from participating nations, including Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom, are involved,” he said to reporters after officiating the opening ceremony of the Bersama 2021 Exercise at the auditorium of the Headquarters Integrated Air Defence System (HQIADS) here today.
He added that a video conferencing facility is available for participants to use for any form of discussions, and participants will only meet in the designated exercise area at sea.
“The exercise is not a form of threat to any country but is merely a military exercise that has been practised since 1972 in an effort to improve competency and professionalism in the armed forces of the FPDA countries, in the aspects of defence and multi-dimensional warfare, including maritime and air,” he said.
He added that the implementation of the Bersama Gold 2021 Exercise did not involve physical contact, and all activities were designed to be in accordance with the established standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Also present at the online opening ceremony was HQIADS Commander Geoffrey Harland.
