PORT KLANG: The visit of His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Montréal to the Indo-Pacific region further illustrates Canada's commitment to promote regional security and stability by deepening and strengthening its engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, including Malaysia.
Canada's High Commissioner to Malaysia Wayne Robson said the Indo-Pacific strategy is a multifaceted approach encompassing not only security and defence but also trade, investment, environment and climate change.
"For example, in March, Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development Minister Mary Ng visited with delegates to boost trade.
"We have seen companies engaging to strengthen this aspect. Since implementing the Indo-Pacific strategy, more Canadian ministers have been deployed to this region than any other globally.
"This year alone, we have had two ministerial visits and now the frigate visit, and it is only May. We look forward to continued cooperation and expect to return next year," Robson said during a media tour of the ship at the Port Klang Cruise Terminal here today.
HMCS Montréal's commanding officer, Commander Travis Bain, said this is their first Indo-Pacific port visit under Operation Horizon.
Bain said Operation Horizon is a comprehensive government strategy launched this year, marking the ship's first mission.
"The strategy integrates the army, air force, other government agencies and political entities to promote peace, security and resilience in the Indo-Pacific.
"After departing here, we will conduct joint exercises with the Malaysian Navy and continue our Indo-Pacific mission, collaborating with partner nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Japan," he said.
Bain emphasised the importance of Pacific nations supporting regional stability.
"With the Indo-Pacific strategy, we have increased our presence in the region. This year, three ships will be deployed to the Indo-Pacific," he said.
The departure of HMCS Montréal from Canada in April this year represents the first of up to three Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) ships that are annually deployed under Operation Horizon in support of Canadian government's Indo-Pacific Strategy.
During their stop in Malaysia until June 3, bilateral office calls are planned with the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) and HMCS Montreal's executive staff.
There will be a ship's tour for RMN sailors and a cooperative deployment with an RMN vessel.
Their visit was welcomed by RMN headquarters operation staff officer 1 Commander Mohd Shahidan Ahmad and National Hydrographic Centre head of administrative development Commander Khairulniza Kamarulzaman.
HMCS port visits to Malaysia are an integral contributor to Canada-Malaysia bilateral defence
relations complementing Op MANTIS, which is a Canada-Malaysia chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear training initiative, and the Directorate of Military Training and Cooperation course offerings in Canada.
In 2023, HMCS Ottawa visited Malaysia to promote collaboration and friendship between our two countries, including an on-board reception, ship tours, a friendly soccer match, and community outreach.
HMCS Montréal is one of 12 Halifax-class frigates of the RCN, equipped with extensive anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare, and anti-air weapons and sensors to complement its
substantial anti-air warfare defences.
Canada and Malaysia celebrated 65 years of official diplomatic relations last year. Both had signed a memorandum of understanding on security cooperation in 2013 and regularly collaborate in areas including military capacity building, counterterrorism, and weapons of mass destruction threat reduction.