An RMN sailor and a U.S. Navy officer unload toys for a school in Sungai Jin, Malaysia. Photo by JOC Melinda Larson, USNR

Community Action Projects
Malaysian and U.S. forces worked together to help communities in several locations. They provided residents of the remote village of Sungai Mas with medical and dental care. They repaired the Jalan Tengku Handicapped Children’s Center, provided supplies to the Orang Asli Sungai Jin Aboriginal Village, and helped brighten the landscape with gardening at the Rumah Kanak-Kanak Tengku Ampuan Fatimah Orphanage. U.S. Army veterinarians provided care to livestock at several community farms.

At the Jalan Tengku Handicapped Children’s Center, Malaysian soldiers and U.S. sailors and Coast Guardsmen worked together to repair and improve the center. With everyone working at various tasks, including hanging and fixing doors and painting, some saw their military training as an advantage for the projects. “As a hull maintenance technician, we work with a lot of different materials, and today we had a lot of hard tasks that needed our expertise to accomplish,” said U.S. Navy HT Alexis Salinas. “By utilizing our everyday skills and training that we receive on the ship, we got the job done.”

“We came here to make a relationship with the civilians, because we are really an Army for the people,” said Malaysian Army Cpl. Vella Khrishnan. “This shows the civilians that we are helping them.” She added, “I really appreciate the U.S. Navy’s helping us to help our society. This is the first time in my service that I’ve had the chance to work with the U.S. Navy.”
In Sungai Mas, Malaysian Army and U.S. Navy medical and dental personnel provided care to the residents. About 50 residents received treatment for a wide range of medical ailments. Dental treatment for about 60 residents included examinations, oral hygiene instruction, tooth extraction, and dental restorations such as amalgam fillings.

A Malaysian boy waits as U.S. Navy dentists discuss a dental procedure for him during a Malaysian-U.S. combined medical/dental project in Sungai Mas. Photo by JO2 Robert Sealover, USNR