By A. RUBAN
The Star
Visiting battleship: One of the Indian navy ships which docked at Westport in Port Klang.
PORT KLANG: Four Indian frontline battleships on an operational deployment to the South China Sea and the Western Pacific have made a port call here.
The vessels deployed on a goodwill visit between mid-May and mid-June are the INS Satpura, INS Ranvijay, INS Kirch and INS Shakti.
All four vessels collectively carry more than 800 crew members.
The five-day visit to Malaysia is led by Rear Admiral Ajit Kumar and includes several programmes with the Royal Malaysian Navy.
Admiral Ajit, who is officially in the country with the vessels for the second time, said he was looking forward to enhancing ties with the Malaysian armed forces.
He said a passage exercise (PASSEX) has been planned with the Malaysian navy and added it would contribute immensely towards furthering peace and maritime security in the region.
“The spectrum of this exercise encompasses both conventional war time drills and cooperative military action against unconventional threats in the maritime domain,” he told reporters at a briefing here yesterday.
However, he said the most important exercise during the visit was to foster closer ties and friendship between Malaysia and India.
“There might be times when both countries may have to work together, hence such port calls would strengthen this purpose,” he added.
On whether the ships would be open to the public, Admiral Ajit said he would make an announcement regarding the matter within the next few days.
There will be a dinner reception on the ship for Indian embassy key personnel and Malaysian officials on Monday.
The vessels will head to Vietnam next and then make a final port call to the Philippines.
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