Malaysia, Australia Preparing Paper On Overcoming Maritime Security Issues

SINGAPORE, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Australia have been entrusted by the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) with the task of preparing a proposal paper on overcoming maritime security issues, Malaysian Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said here on Tuesday. He said this was part of the efforts to face non-conventional security threats which covered such aspects as cyber security, sea robbery and piracy, maritime safety, military medicine, and humanitarian and disaster relief. "This is the preparation to face the new anticipated threats," he told Malaysian journalists at the Changi naval base. Dr Ahmad Zahid had earlier joined the other four FPDA defence ministers at a news conference held in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the FPDA and 8th FPDA Defence Ministers Meeting chaired by Singapore Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen. The three other ministers are Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith, New Zealand Defence Minister Dr Wayne Mapp and United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defence Philip Hammond. Dr Ahmad Zahid said it was necessary to find ways to overcome the non-conventional threats to security, particularly bio-chemical warfare. -- BERNAMA