CHENGDU, Nov 11 — The Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail is confident close diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China would lead to more exchange of military training among students of institutes of higher learning.             

He said exchanges in military and defence training would benefit both parties.                 

Speaking after visiting the Chengdu Special Forces Operations Centre in Sichuan yesterday, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin who is also the Commander of the 504th Regiment of the Territorial Army based in Bukit Keteri, Perlis said this was possible after the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding between the two parties.               

He was leading the delegation of Reserve Officers Training Unit (Palapes) which represented eight Malaysian government institutes of higher learning (IPTA) — Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) and  Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM).         

The delegation was received by the Commander of the Operations Centre of the Chengdu Special Team, Senior Colonel Su Jie.

Su Jie also gave a briefing to the delegation which also viewed the special forces training at a 400-hectare area.

The visit by the Raja Muda of Perlis and Palapes members was part of the Academic Work and Military Strategy programme of the military academy and training centre of the Chinese Military in Chengdu and Beijing, from November 9 to 18.       

Also present was UniMAP vice-chancellor, Brig-Jen (K) Datuk Prof Dr Kamarudin Hussin who is also honorary Commander of the 509 Force of the Territorial Army, vice-chancellor who is also Commander of UPM Palapes, Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Fauzi Ramlan and Rector of UiTM Perlis, Major (R) Datuk Dr Ahmad Redzuan Abdul Rahman who is also Commander of UiTM Perlis.                  

During the briefing, Su Jie said not all applications from foreigners to visit and view the training at the Operations Centre are allowed.

“We only accept applications from certain parties,” he said.

Prof Dr Kamarudin also said several aspects of the training at the Chengdu Special Operations Centre should be applied to Palapes officers, especially discipline and training to improve skills.         

The Palapes delegation also visited the oldest mosque in Chengdu, the Huangcheng Mosque which was built in 1677, destroyed during the internal strife in 1917, and rebuilt in 1997.

Syed Faizuddin who is also the head of the Perlis Islamic Religion and Malay Custom Council (MAIPs) also presented the council’s contribution of RM1,000 to the mosque, received by its secretary, Guo Song Ming. — Bernama