Singapore, Indonesia Discuss Co-developing Military Training Facilities

Singapore and Indonesia have discussed jointly developing military training facilities in West Kalimantan, Baturaja, and the Siabu Air Weapons Range, which will give both militaries more opportunities to learn from each other, said Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing.

- Ng Wei Kai

Besides a possible project in Baturaja in South Sumatra for army training and another in Pekanbaru in Riau for air force training, Singapore's special forces will carry out inaugural training in West Kalimantan in the coming months "to try out the facilities in the area," he said on Aug 6.

The two countries' air forces will also be commencing joint fighter air patrols soon, Mr Chan said in a Facebook post on Aug 5, following his meeting in Jakarta with Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

Mr Chan was in Indonesia for a two-day introductory visit that ended on Aug 6.

At his meeting with Mr Sjafrie, the two ministers reaffirmed the strong and longstanding bilateral defence relations between Singapore and Indonesia.

On Aug 5, Mr Chan also delivered a lecture to 250 future Indonesian leaders at Indonesia's National Resilience Institute.

He noted that Singapore and Indonesia have many things in common, including a shared interest in upholding the international rule of law and in building their respective national identities on their multiracial, multi-religious backgrounds.