ASEAN Members Ready To Share Intelligence Data To Tackle Militancy Threats

By Samantha Tan BEIJING, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- All 10 members of ASEAN have collectively stated their readiness to tackle the threats of the so-called IS militant group, including to share intelligence data, says Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein. He said intelligence sharing was an important matter and it involved incidents that would probably happen every week. The minister said such a cooperation was also vital to identify the reasons behind the bombing incident in Bangkok, who was involved and how it could spread to other countries in the region. "Focus is also given on the IS and how our own citizens in ASEAN member countries are travelling to Iraq or Syria. "More importantly, what will happen when they return to the region, not necessarily to their own countries of origin, but to any area that can receive militancy in certain network in the region," he said. Hishammuddin said this to reporters after the China-ASEAN (10+1) Defence Minister Unofficial Meeting which aimed at intensifying strategic ties and pragmatic cooperation between China and ASEAN here Friday. Also present was China's Defence Minister Chang Wanquan. Hishammuddin said the 10 defence ministers from ASEAN member countries were aware that the militant group was not a simple security threat under police responsibility, but more of a national security threat that needed collective participation to be tackled. He said matters discussed at the ASEAN level had also been shared with China and the country had stated its stand together with the 10 ASEAN members to tackle terrorism. The minister said territorial and maritime disputes, especially in South China Sea, were also raised and ASEAN countries had agreed to resolve it wisely. In the context of ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM), Hishammuddin reminded all quarters that part of the duties of a defence minister was to ensure that there would be no flashpoint or incident which was unintentional or accidental in nature, would occur between security, navy and air force personnel. "This is all part of the ASEAN defence ministers' duties to ensure that such an incident will not occur to the extent of being uncontrollable. I see that it was well accepted by all while waiting for a diplomatic solution to the problems. Hishammuddin, who is also ADMM chairman, said China's treatment for the 10 ASEAN member countries also proved the entity was highly respected and that there was no geopolitical interests that would affect its interests, sovereignty and dignity. Besides China, he said the ASEAN countries had also received an invitation for a meeting from the United States Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter. On China Navy vessel entering the waters of east Malaysian state Sarawak, Hishammuddin said the vessel's activities were being closely monitored by the Malaysian authority. "Don't think that the Ministry of Defence, Malaysian Armed Forces and the Royal Malaysian Navy were unaware of it, but with the existing close ties between Malaysia and China, I'm sure we can find solution through meetings," he added. --BERNAMA