Foreign Military Ships Anchoring In Country's Waters Should Not Be Politicised - Deputy Defence Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- The issue of foreign military vessels anchoring in the country's waters should not be politicised as it is aimed at strengthening defence ties between countries. Deputy Defence Minister Mohd Johari Baharum said approval to anchor in the national waters was not only given to ships from certain countries such as China, but it was open to other countries on a request basis. "We sometimes go out to other countries and stopover at their ports and this matter should not be politicised for a particular purpose and reason. "We will take care of the country's security, we will not let even an inch of our land be colonised by any party for a specific purpose and it should not be questioned," he said when winding-up debate on the Supply Bill 2016 at the committee level for the Defence Ministry, here Monday. Johari said all quarters, especially the opposition, should look at the good side of the issue, including the trade relations and a joint military exercise with foreign countries such as China and the United States. "This issue should not be politicised as we are very sensitive to what's happening around us, including the South China Sea dispute," he said in reply to Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) who questioned the permission given to China's navy to use facilities at the Kota Kinabalu port in Sabah state. It was reported that the Royal Malaysian Navy had offered China the Kota Kinabalu port as a stopover location to strengthen defence ties between the two countries. Regarding the low number of non-Malays joining the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), Mohd Johari said "All members of Parliament should jointly promote the involvement of more races in defending the country". The Dewan Rakyat (Malaysia's House of Representatives) sitting continues Tuesday. -- BERNAMA