Malaysia Monday reiterated its readiness to negotiate with any country willing to provide security control in the Melaka [Malacca] Strait, the world's busiest waterway. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, however, said it must done with respect to Malaysia's right as a sovereign and littoral state responsible to the strait. "We have been always saying that if there are any country willing to cooperate with us, we have no problems. We can sit down and talk," he told reporters, here Monday. Syed Hamid was commenting on today's newspaper report that the US was willing to offer assistance to Indonesia to police the strait.Syed Hamid said it was improper for the US to offer assistance either to Singapore or Indonesia to patrol the strait without Malaysia's consent. Also, he questioned whether there was a need for Indonesia, Singapore or Malaysia to seek outsider help to provide security in the strait...
Syed Hamid said Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia would meet soon to discuss security issues at the strait. The discussions would, among others, centre on a recent incident where an armed civilian ship escorted another civilian vessel while passing the strait. "We are concerned that there are civilian ships under the guise of providing security cover. This is taking over the role of the navy, the role of maritime agencies, this is very dangerous. "These are mercenaries and we cannot allow them to operate in our area," he said.
| Sounds like the International Brotherhood of Pirates made a contribution to his retirement fund. Can't have anyone defending themselves without government approval, why that might be considered restraint of trade. |