Thai and Malaysian military forces coordinated operations against high-seas pirates and protection of the two countries’ natural gas fields during the Thalay Laut joint naval exercise.
Rear Adm. Rangsrit Satyanukul, head of the Royal Thai Navy’s Patrol Squadron, and Royal Malaysian Navy Vice Adm. Datoh Abdul Hadi Binarazid kicked off the 19th exercise since 1980 at the Sunyabat Club at the Royal Thai Fleet’s Sattahip headquarters June 26.
Royal Malaysian Navy Vice Adm. Datoh Abdul Hadi Binarazid greets the Thai troops, watched by Rear Adm. Rangsrit Satyanukul, head of the Royal Thai Navy’s Patrol Squadron.
The June 26-July 4 war games helped the two navies increase familiarity with each other’s operations and missions, while strengthening the relationship between the two countries, officials said.
Key exercises include protection of natural gas resources shared by Thailand and Malaysia, as well as suppression of pirates and rescues during natural disasters.
The Malaysians sent the KD Kelantan, a coastal patrol ship; the KD Perkas, a corvette ship, and the fast-attack ship KD Gempita. The Thais contributed HTMS Narathiwat, HTMS Luangiwttayakhim and HTMS Songkhla, along with naval aircraft.
