Penang To Host Major ASEAN Naval Events With 10 Warships Docking

GEORGE TOWN, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- Penang will take centre stage in regional maritime defence as the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) hosts three key ASEAN naval events from Aug 15 to 22 under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025.

The week-long programme includes the 19th ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting (ANCM), the Third ASEAN Multilateral Naval Exercise (AMNEX) and the ASEAN Fleet Review (AFR), with activities across George Town and Batu Ferringhi.

The ANCM Working Committee deputy chairman Rear Admiral Datuk Mohd Fadzli Kamal Mohd Mohaldin told Bernama that the events will feature ten warships, seven from ASEAN countries and three from RMN, bringing about 1,600 naval personnel to Penang’s Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal.

He said the programme begins with the arrival of the vessels on Aug 15. It will be followed by the AMNEX Opening Ceremony and its ‘Port Phase’ on Aug 16, which allows naval officers to finalise plans for the joint sea exercises.

The RMN will also host the Naval Engineering Conference (NEC), a scientific forum uniting regional naval engineers to discuss innovations under the theme ‘Innovation and Technology Towards Improving Ship Survivability at Sea’.

A highlight open to the public is the ASEAN Navies’ City Parade (ANCP) on Aug 17 at the Esplanade in Padang Kota Lama, held alongside Penang’s Hari Buletin 4.0 event. The parade commemorates the historic 1990 International Royal Fleet Review, which saw 59 warships and over 11,000 naval personnel visit Penang.

Visitors will also have the rare opportunity to tour the docked warships at Swettenham Pier, gaining insights into the latest naval technologies. The programme includes the various contingents’ parade, local agency display, cultural performances, maritime asset salutes and RMN helicopter flypasts.

The 19th ANCM, a high-level meeting of ASEAN naval commanders to strengthen maritime cooperation and trust, will convene on Aug 19 at Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort in Batu Ferringhi. Delegates will then attend the ASEAN Chief Navy (CN) Interaction Programme at Penang Hill on Aug 20.

The grand finale, the ASEAN Fleet Review on Aug 21, will see all participating warships sail in formation through the northern strait, a spectacle visible from Butterworth and George Town.

Mohd Fadzli Kamal invited the public, especially students, families and maritime enthusiasts, to join the events and celebrate the close ties between the people and their navies.

He expressed hope that the successful hosting of ANCM, AMNEX and AFR will bolster the RMN’s reputation as a professional, respected and future-ready force, while enhancing Malaysia’s role as a leader in regional maritime cooperation.

-- BERNAMA