ID :
168171
Tue, 03/15/2011 - 04:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/168171
The shortlink copeid
M'SIA INVITES S'PORE TO JOINTLY MONITOR GULF OF ADEN
KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has asked the Singapore Navy for cooperation in monitoring security in the Gulf of Aden to ensure the safety of merchant ships plying the waters near Somalia for mutual benefit.
Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the matter was
conveyed to Singapore Navy chief, Rear Admiral Chew Men Leong, who paid a courtesy call on him at Wisma Pertahanan (Ministry of Defence) here Monday, as the minister felt that such cooperation could strengthen security operations against piracy in the area.
"We are inviting the Singapore Navy to be involved in our operations as it will be part of an international team and not just representing its own country.
"This is apt as Malaysia and Singapore will be jointly protecting the merchant ships from Southeast Asian countries against piracy," he said after the visit by the Singapore Navy delegation led by Chew.
The minister said piracy in the Gulf of Aden was no longer conventional as the pirates had now resorted to using hijacked vessels to commit more crime at sea.
Ahmad Zahid also thanked Singapore for inviting Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to deliver a working paper at the 10th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, this June in the island republic.
In another development, he said the ministry would review the Veterans Bill 2011 after the Ex-Servicemen's Association of Malaysia voiced their dissatisfaction over the Bill which they said would curb their freedom of expression.
"The Veterans Bill was tabled (for first reading) in the House of
Representatives last Tuesday and I hope this will be discussed in greater detail," he said.
Two days ago, the association urged the Defence Ministry to review the Bill because when it becomes an Act and enforced, all matters will have to be dealt with through the Veterans Council.
Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the matter was
conveyed to Singapore Navy chief, Rear Admiral Chew Men Leong, who paid a courtesy call on him at Wisma Pertahanan (Ministry of Defence) here Monday, as the minister felt that such cooperation could strengthen security operations against piracy in the area.
"We are inviting the Singapore Navy to be involved in our operations as it will be part of an international team and not just representing its own country.
"This is apt as Malaysia and Singapore will be jointly protecting the merchant ships from Southeast Asian countries against piracy," he said after the visit by the Singapore Navy delegation led by Chew.
The minister said piracy in the Gulf of Aden was no longer conventional as the pirates had now resorted to using hijacked vessels to commit more crime at sea.
Ahmad Zahid also thanked Singapore for inviting Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to deliver a working paper at the 10th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, this June in the island republic.
In another development, he said the ministry would review the Veterans Bill 2011 after the Ex-Servicemen's Association of Malaysia voiced their dissatisfaction over the Bill which they said would curb their freedom of expression.
"The Veterans Bill was tabled (for first reading) in the House of
Representatives last Tuesday and I hope this will be discussed in greater detail," he said.
Two days ago, the association urged the Defence Ministry to review the Bill because when it becomes an Act and enforced, all matters will have to be dealt with through the Veterans Council.
