BY ZUHRIN AZAM AHMAD
SINGAPORE: Malaysia is against any idea to allow foreign naval or coast guard vessels to act as armed escorts for ships plying the Straits of Malacca.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said there was no pressing need for such armed escort services in the straits.
“Malaysia is steadfast in its belief that the littoral states – Singapore, Indonesia and us – are capable of patrolling the straits without external intervention.
“These services should only be provided outside of our territorial waters,” he said, when addressing defence ministers, military chiefs and diplomats at the final session of the annual Shangri-la Dialogue here yesterday.
Najib, who is also the Defence Minister, said while Malaysia recognised that it had been a common practice for merchant ships to carry small firearms, the country was concerned with the possibility of them using larger and more offensive systems.
“It is very likely that these escort services will, at some point, enter territorial waters. When this occurs, we are obliged under the straits regime to allow them transit passage.
“It is at this point that we strongly feel the role of these private security companies should be controlled and regulated and should not impinge on our national sovereignty,” he said.
Najib said it was crucial for the international community to recognise that the littoral states remained in the driver’s seat.
“The primary responsibility for implementation of measures to strengthen security and safe passage in the straits should be in our hands,” he said.
Najib, however, said Malaysia acknowledged the limitations of the three nations in bearing that responsibility and called on the international community to help make the straits safe.
Malaysia’s position on straits security attracted considerable attention during the dialogue session that followed.
One participant sought clarification from Najib on whether Malaysia would allow other countries to protect their own ships in the straits.
To this, Najib said the fact, that the straits had been governed according to international laws and that it was the territorial waters of the littoral states, should not be overlooked.
“So, if it is constituted as our territorial waters, the answer is that 'We should be the one protecting you'. We shouldn’t allow your ships to be threatened.”
