US Armada Shift To Pacific Not A Threat, Says Armed Forces Commander

KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia does not see the moving of the majority of the United States of America's (US) navy armada to the Pacific by 2020 as a threat, said Malaysian Armed Forces Commander, General Zulkifeli Mohd Zin. He observed that their intention was not linked to the South China Sea issue involving a tussle between several countries but more towards an effort to maintain peace in the region. Zulkifeli drew attention to the fact that the region was developing economically and said," So I'm of the opinion that its natural for the US to focus on security issues." He was speaking at a press conference after the launch of the Malaysia-Australia Defence Alumni Association (M-ADAA) here Tuesday. US secretary of defence Leon Panetta was earlier reported as stating that the super power would place 60 percent of its navy armada at the Pacific ocean by 2020 as part of its new defence strategy. The US armada is currently divided approximately 50/50 between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Meanwhile, Zulkifeli praised the nation's armed forces and the Australian army for creating M-ADAA which according to him provided the veterans with an avenue to meet and share ideas on defence. Registration with the alumni may be done via www.m-adaa.org. -- BERNAMA