PROPOSAL TO BUILD LIGHTHOUSES NATIONWIDE

KOTA KINABALU (Malaysia), April 25 (Bernama) -- Deputy Transport Minister
Abdul Rahim Bakri has suggested the Marine Department be given the task of
marking or building lighthouses on islands and rocks throughout the country's
waters.

He said it was important to facilitate proof of ownership, effective
monitoring and sovereignity involving the country's assets.

"We don't want assets as small as rocks to be given to another party,
because each one that rises to the water surface is still part of the
territorial waters, while liveable islands can become exclusive economic zones.

"The Batu Putih incident should not recur. As maritime members, we cannot
run away from facing this phenomemon. Traditionally, the Marine Department
provides services in relation to the safety of the maritime industry," he said
after listening to a briefing on the development of the department under the
ministry in Teluk Sepanggar here Friday.


Abdul Rahim said the department should be given this additional
responsibility as it owned the infrastructure, equipment and staff that only
needed to be increased to strengthen sovereignty.

He said the National Security Council had limited capacity on policy, but
the department should be empowered on safety aspects such as information
storage, data and as markings.

"We must remember that from the economic aspect, territorial waters and
exclusive economic zones are large contributors to the country's assets and
revenue, in terms of fishery, natural oil and gas sources," he said.

-- BERNAMA