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| Southeast Asia |
| Malacca Straits Security To Remain At Current Level |
| 2005-07-12 |
| KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has no plans to bolster maritime security in the Straits of Melaka in the wake of the bombings in London but will maintain the current arrangement to monitor the busy waterway, according to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN). [RMN Assistant Chief of Staff (Plans, Strategy and Operation) First Admiral Ahmad Kamarulzaman Badaruddin] was asked to comment whether Malaysia would tighten maritime security in the wake of the terrorist bombings in London which killed at least 50 people and injured about 700 last Thursday. Ahmad Kamarulzaman said maritime security was a complex issue given the 900-km stretch of the straits... He also said that Malaysia and the RMN were committed to ensuring that security was well managed along the busiest waterway where a quarter of the world's trade and half of its oil pass through. "This is to provide assurance to our international users that the straits is safe... In fact, if you look at statistics, the Straits of Melaka is one of the safest straits in the world; the incidences (of threats) are small (in number) and relatively the risk factor is very small," said Ahmad Kamarulzaman. Meanwhile, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said "business is usual" when asked whether the government will heighten security along the straits following the London tragedy... However, he said the government would not tolerate any form of security threat in Malaysian waters, be it small-scale robbery or piracy. Speaking at the same press conference, MIMA Chairman Vice-Admiral (Rtd) Datuk Seri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor said the straits was still the safest sea lane. He also dismissed a newspaper report today that said the straits was a terrorism-risk area. "It is over-reaction and dramatised (the threats). If you compare (piracy) statistics, the Straits of Melaka is one of the safest straits in the world," he said. At the height of piracy attacks in 2000, only 37 cases, including theft on boats and fishing vessels, were reported, he added. |
| Posted by:Pappy |