RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES READY TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATION AT BILATERAL, MULTILATERAL LEVELS

By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Russia is ready to contribute more to strengthening the fruitful cooperation of the Russian Armed Forces in bilateral and multilateral ties, such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meetings-Plus (ADMM-Plus), said the military attaché of the Russian embassy in Malaysia.

The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners Australia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and the United States (collectively referred to as the “Plus Countries”), to strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability and development in the region.

Captain 1st Rank Victor A. Shkulepa said the Royal Malaysian Air Force has clearly demonstrated the highest level of mutual trust between Malaysia and Russia. 

“Our security cooperation is very obvious and natural. We (Russian Armed Forces and Malaysian Armed Forces) didn’t have any problem in the past and I am totally convinced that we will not have them in the future,” Shkulepa said in his speech at the Russian Armed Forces Day reception here recently. 

Touching on the upcoming Langkawi International Martime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2025, he said Russia looks forward to actively participating in the exhibition, which will run for five days from May 20.

Shkulepa also expressed his sincere thanks to all Malaysians, especially to the people of Penang, who keep memory of more than 80 Russian sailors who found their last shelter there more than 110 years back during the First World War.

“... special thanks to the Honorary Consul of Russia in Penang, Malaysia Datuk Teoh Seng Lee who accurately preserves the Russian Military Memorial,” he added. 

 According to earlier media reports, 89 Russian soldiers who were killed in the Battle of Penang during the First World War were laid to rest at the memorial in 1914.

Meanwhile, Russian news agency TASS, in its report from Moscow Monday, said Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu has set off on a working visit to Indonesia and Malaysia, where he is expected to hold talks on pressing bilateral issues.

The report quoted the council’s press service statement.

"On Feb 24, 2025, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu set off on a working visit to Indonesia and Malaysia, accompanied by an interagency delegation.

“The trip will last until Feb 28. During the visit, talks are expected on pressing bilateral issues, including those related to security and defence, as well as on the development of cooperation in other areas of mutual interest," the statement read.

The parties are also supposed to exchange views on international and regional issues, it added.

A source, when contacted by Bernama International News Service, declined to confirm if Shoigu has arrived in Malaysia or not and other details of the visit.

The source also did not confirm that the Russian security official is attending the ongoing ADMM Retreat in Batu Ferringhi, Penang. 

Malaysia, the chair of ASEAN this year under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, is hosting the two-day ADMM Retreat, which commenced today and brings together defence ministers and senior officials from all 10 ASEAN member states and observer state Timor-Leste.

The inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in Ha Noi, Vietnam, on Oct 12, 2010.

-- BERNAMA

RMI MAS MJM