Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said a common stand would make it easier for the littoral states -- Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore -- in their discussions with other countries on the straits.
"When having discussions with other countries, we can determine (collectively) what contributions they can make towards security in the straits, for instance in capacity building," he told Malaysian journalists covering an international security conference, dubbed the Shangri-La Dialogue, here.
By Jackson Sawatan
SINGAPORE, June 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Sunday proposed discussions among the littoral states of the Straits of Melaka to arrive at a common stand on the role other countries can play in helping to maintain security in the busy waterway.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said a common stand would make it easier for the littoral states -- Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore -- in their discussions with other countries on the straits.
"When having discussions with other countries, we can determine (collectively) what contributions they can make towards security in the straits, for instance in capacity building," he told Malaysian journalists covering an international security conference, dubbed the Shangri-La Dialogue, here.
Najib, who is also Defence Minister, was asked to comment on views that the littoral states of the straits should harness the significant resources of the major user countries.
He also said that the littoral states should discuss the form of co-operation among themselves that they could implement, particularly related to co-ordinated patrol in the straits.
"We are comfortable with the idea of co-ordinated patrol but we should also not close our mind to other forms of co-operation," he said.
"We have to take a step forward to determine the contribution that can be received from the international community," he said.
Najib also held bilateral talks with United States' Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld earlier today, and said the discussions centred on regional issues.
Rumsfeld, he said, had expressed appreciation for Malaysia's efforts to curb terrorism as well as its humanitarian relief work in regions hit by the tsunami of Dec 26 last year.
