LANGKAWI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi welcomes foreign monetary and technical aid to enhance security in the Straits of Malacca.
But he is against foreign forces patrolling the busy waterway.
The United States had proposed that an international force, namely the US-led Regional Maritime Security Initiative (RMSI), patrol the Straits of Malacca.
“We are strongly against any involvement of foreign assets to ensure security of the strait,” said Abdullah in his keynote address read out by Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abu Bakar Abdullah at the opening of the Lima 2007 International Maritime Conference at Awana Porto Malai here yesterday.
“The presence of stakeholders with differing interests at the (Lima) conference reflects Malaysia’s commitment to being transparent and open about how best we can manage these issues (related to security of the strait),” he said.
Abdullah noted that the strait was one of the world’s key strategic waterways, as more than 600,000 vessels ply it annually, ferrying 30% of the world’s trade and 80% of Japan's oil.
“We are using this forum (the Maritime Convention) as a vehicle to inform the international maritime community that Malaysia is serious in its actions to ensure safety and security in the Straits of Malacca,” he said.
Abu Bakar later told newsmen that the ministry was looking into procuring better maritime patrol surveillance aircraft.
Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency northern region head First Admiral Zammani Mod Amin said that Malaysia and Indonesia were against having forces from outside the region manning the security of the strait.
Singapore, which is a participant of the US-led RMSI, had been the “leading voice” advocating an external presence in the strait, he said.
Lima maritime organiser HW Lima Sdn Bhd managing director Ahmad Dzuhri Abdul Wahab said the event had attracted eight warships and a submarine from eight countries.
“We also have 150 exhibitors from 20 countries. This is the biggest ever maritime exhibition,” he said.
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