Kuantan, September 15, 2023 – The closing ceremony of Exercise Pacific Partnership 2023 (Ex PP23) was conducted on board the USS Pearl Harbor, New Deep Water Terminal (NDWT), presided over by Mission Commander Captain Claudine Caluori of the US Navy.

Ex PP23 was a collaborative effort between the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), USN Medical Corps, US Agency for International Development, US Coast Guard, 364th Civil Affairs Brigade, USN Construction Battalion, Royal Army Medical Corps, Australia Gender Advisor, New Zealand Army, Canadian Army, ROKN Construction Battalion, and ROKN Medical Corps.

Additionally, various Malaysian government agencies participated, including the National Security Council (NSC) Pahang, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Malaysian Civil Defense Force (APM), Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JPBM), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM), Sultan Ahmad Shah Maritime Academy (AMSAS), and Malaysian Volunteer Department (RELA). The exercise involved 800 participants from seven countries.

Ex PP23 focused on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). The objective was to enhance the capabilities and cooperation among the armed forces, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations from the participating nations in conducting HADR missions.

During Ex PP23, four main activities were carried out:

1. Medical Engagement involving MAF agencies, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Pahang State Health Department (JKNP), and medical teams from the US Navy and other partner nations.
2. Engineering Engagement where teams from 7th Squadron Royal Army Engineers Regiment (RAJD), US Navy Construction Battalion, and Republic of Korean Navy (ROKN) Construction Battalion maintained water tanks at Pandan National School, benefiting 300 students.
3. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) activities, including flood relief efforts in the Kuantan district, involving various agencies from Malaysia and the United States.
4. Host Nation Outreach Event (HNOE) aimed at strengthening relations with the local community, students, and American military personnel through entertainment and sports activities.

Ex PP23 was deemed successful in achieving its objectives, with all planned activities executed without any injuries. The knowledge-sharing programs proved highly beneficial to all Malaysian government agencies and MAF, potentially aiding in future disaster relief efforts.

The closing ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Assistant Chief of Staff Division J5, Joint Forces Headquarters, Rear Admiral Hj Muhammad Rodhi bin Ariffin TLDM; Charge d’Affaires Manu Bhalla from the US Embassy in Malaysia; Defense Attache Office of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Malaysia, Colonel Lee Seongkyun; Exercise Director J3-Exercise Joint Forces Headquarters, Colonel Zulfakar bin Abdul Wahid; USS Pearl Harbor Commander Sameer Khanna; ROKS Cheon Ja-Bong Commander Moon-Kwon Park, and officials from ATM, IIUM, PDRM, APMM, Pahang State Health Department, and others.

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