This is the country’s civil coast guard, the people who keep watch over Malaysian waters every single day through patrol, search and rescue, and maritime security.  It was the very first meeting on the whole journey, and DCDS – M went in simply to listen. No pitch, no slides, just real questions about what they do and where the pressures lie.  The goal was to understand their world in their own words, and to spot honestly where the coalition could actually add something worthwhile.  Out of that first sit – down, a clear opening appeared around maritime surveillance, sensing, and command, exactly the areas where Dutch capability is strong. First meetings shape everything that comes after, and this one set the right tone from the start, curiosity before selling, understanding before offering.  It quietly became the anchor for every maritime conversation that followed, and it proved that showing up to learn, not to sell, opens more doors than any brochure ever could.