“If the governments can take action against their nationals who committed transnational crimes, that would eliminate the threat,” said the Deputy Prime Minister during the final session of the annual Shangri-la Dialogue on Asia Security here yesterday.
SINGAPORE: The three littoral states of the Straits of Malacca – Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia – should work together in combating piracy by eliminating the scourge at its source, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He said this was the most effective way to check pirates rather than chasing them in the open sea.
“In most, if not all cases, the authorities of the littoral states should have some knowledge about pirates' hideouts and where they were based.
“If the governments can take action against their nationals who committed transnational crimes, that would eliminate the threat,” said the Deputy Prime Minister during the final session of the annual Shangri-la Dialogue on Asia Security here yesterday.
Najib said this would be the most effective method and certainly the cheapest way to eliminate pirates.
Speaking to Malaysian reporters later, Najib said the littoral states needed to have a common stand on the role the other countries could play in helping to maintain security in the Straits of Malacca.
“A common stand would make it easier for us to discuss things with those using the straits.
“We can determine what contributions they can make towards the security in the straits, for instance in capacity building,” he added.
Najib said the littoral states should also discuss about the form of cooperation they could implement.
On his bilateral meeting with United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld earlier, Najib said their talks were centred on regional issues.
“He (Rumsfeld) also expressed his appreciation of our efforts to check terrorism as well as our humanitarian relief work in regions hit by the tsunami,” he added.
