Malaysia, Australia, Will Enhance Defence Cooperation To Address Daesh Threat

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Australia will enhance cooperation in defence and intelligence exchange to address the security threat of Daesh militant group. Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said one of the aspects involves the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) which comprises both countries. "The relationship with Australia include holding military exercise and the exchange of intelligence mainly related to the threat posed by Daesh. "I will hold talks with my Australian counterpart soon on this subject. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also agreed with us," he told reporters after receiving a courtesy call from Bishop in parliament, Tuesday. In the meeting, he shared Malaysia's experience in dealing with kidnappings by Abu Sayyaf militant group in the Sulu Sea and piracy in the Straits of Melaka with the help of the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Hishammuddin said Australia does not have to be rigid and should 'think outside the box' without being bound by any group. "For example, the cooperation in the Sulu Sea between Malaysia,Indonesia, and the Philippines under the ASEAN umbrella shows the 'think outside the box' approach by not involving all ASEAN member countries," he added. --BERNAMA