Pulau Pinang has received another visit from a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) vessel, just weeks after welcoming two ships from the same navy, sparking significant debate within the country.
According to a statement from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) on social media, the PLA Navy’s training vessel “PO LANG” arrived at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) in George Town from Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The arrival was greeted by an RMN delegation led by Captain Hj Shaiful Fadzli bin Ismail, Assistant Chief of Staff of Operations for the Western Fleet Command. Also present were representatives from the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Penang, along with officials from federal and state government agencies.
The “PO LANG” was welcomed with military honors, including a performance by the KD SULTAN ISMAIL Band.
“PO LANG” is an 86-meter-long training vessel currently on a training voyage across several countries, with its next destination being Singapore.”
To enhance diplomatic ties between the PLA Navy and the RMN, the flotilla commander and commanding officer of the “PO LANG” will pay a courtesy visit to RMN representatives at the Navy Liaison Office in Penang.
The vessel will also be visited by crew members from RMN’s training ship, KLD TUNAS SAMUDERA, as well as government agencies, fostering knowledge and technology exchange.
A few weeks earlier, two other PLAN vessels, the Qi Jiguang and Jinggang Shan from Task Group 83, made a port call in Penang, receiving a warm reception from local authorities, which drew criticism from certain political quarters.
The two Chinese vessels stayed for three days before departing for Chittagong, Bangladesh.
During that visit, the Speaker of the Penang State Assembly, Law Choo Kiang, hosted the commanders of both ships, while Chinese sailors and cadets visited Chung Ling High School.
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