Malaysia To Hold Special Meeting On Security Of ASEAN Regional Waters

KUANTAN (Pahang, Malaysia), July 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will call for a special meeting of ASEAN defence ministers in mid-August to discuss on cooperation and issues related to security of the region's waters. Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein Tuesday said the hijacking of the Malaysian merchant ship, MT Orkim Harmony, on June 11 showed prevailing weaknesses in security control over the region's waters. "A clear weakness is the lack of cooperation and coordination in surveillance among the countries with maritime territorial waters. "It is important for us to understand that issues such as this could only be tackled if we forge close ties with neighbouring countries and others concerned. That is why we are calling for a meeting with these countries to discuss the matter." Hishammuddin said this at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) jetty in Tanjung Gelang, here, where he met the crew of the RMN vessel, KD Terengganu, which was involved in the search and rescue of MT Orkim Harmony. He said the special meeting, to be chaired by Malaysia as the current ASEAN Chair, was expected to involve six countries including Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, while Vietnam and Myanmar would act as observers. The minister said the meeting would also involve Malaysia's enforcement agencies such as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, National Security Council and RMN. Included in the discussion agenda is the proposed use of the Malacca Strait Patrol (MSP) involving three main aspects, namely the Malacca Strait Sea Patrol (MSSP), Eyes in the Sky (EiS) and Intelligence Exchange Group (MSP IEG). "The MSP which was launched on April 21, 2006 to monitor the Malacca Strait involves the coordination of sea and aerial patrols among countries bordering the Strait, in combating piracy. "The operations involving four countries, namely Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, also involve intelligence gathering and sharing, which have managed to reduce the rate of piracy in the Malacca Strait," he said. Meanwhile, Hishammuddin also urged shipping companies whose vessels transport high-value cargo to keep the authorities informed so that their journeys could be monitored. "Let's all play our role. Don't wait (until something undesirable happens), then only we take measures, when it's rather late," he said. -- BERNAMA