HMAS Perth arrives in Malaysia
Leaving the winter chill of Western Australia, RAN Anzac-class frigate HMAS Perth arrived in Malaysia for the first port visit on her regional presence deployment in South-East Asia.
During the visit, the crew of Perth opened up the ship and welcomed VIPs on board for an official reception.
One such VIP was Malaysia’s first Malaysian-born Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), RADM (Rtd) Tan Sri Dato Seri K. Thanabalasingam (retd), who attended alongside current serving RMN personnel.
Distinguished guests also attended from the diplomatic and defence communities of Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Philippines, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Local Malaysian police officers, port officials and other guests mingled with the ship’s crew while sampling the Australian hospitality, including kangaroo skewers and regional wines.
Acting Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Simon Fellows said the enduring relationship between the two navies extended well beyond official engagements.
“Our partnership is built on trust, forged through shared experiences and strengthened through decades of practical cooperation,” he said.
“The Malaysian Chief of Navy ADML Tan Sri Zulhelmy bin Ithnain and Australia’s new Chief of the Defence Force ADML Mark Hammond underwent submarine training together, as did the new Chief of Navy VADM Matt Buckley and Malaysia’s Western Fleet Commander VADM Dato’ Baharudin bin Wan Mohammad Nor.
“As we look to the future, we continue to work to support a secure, stable, prosperous and resilient region for the benefit of both our nations.”
After the reception, some of the Perth crew visited the local golf course with RMN personnel, while others stayed on the ship to support a memorable tour for around 20 RMN cadets who were stepping on board a Navy ship for the first time.
The port visit reinforced the personal connections that underpin Australia’s longstanding maritime partnership with Malaysia.
