DEFENCE MINISTERS TO MEET MID-APRIL
Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines to discuss maritime security, says Hisham
LESLIE ANDRES AND HANI SHAMIRA LANGKAWI news@nst.com.my
THE defence ministers of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines will hold a trilateral meeting in Sabah next month to discuss maritime security and the launch of the Sulu Sea Initiative.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said: “The meeting will take place in three weeks’ time and we are taking into account the question of Sulu Sea’s security, especially through cooperation taken by all three nations. This will include joint patrols, ‘eye in the sky’ and others.”
Hishammuddin said it was important for the three countries to cooperate to monitor the Sulu Sea.
“Just imagine if Abu Sayyaf and other militants give their support to the Islamic State.
“We are worried if the militant movements in Iraq and Syria are successful, and they return to their home countries, which include Malaysia.
“If this happens, I do not think any country can move freely. But, just imagine the ‘power’ in the Sulu Sea if assets from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines can be deployed at the same time.”
Speaking after attending the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) dialogue with youths at Resorts World Langkawi here, he did not want to touch on details of the meeting, but the New Sunday Times has learnt that it would take place in Sandakan on April 10.
During the dialogue, Hishammuddin touched on the question of security, especially in the Sulu Sea, and he and Youth and Sport Minister Khairy Jamaluddin addressed the questions and aspirations of more than 500 youths from various Reserve Officer Training Units and the National Service Volunteer Brigade.
On matters pertaining to combating cyber threats, he told participants that the ministry’s Cyber Defence Operations Centre, which falls under Military Intelligence, was expected to be fully operational in October.
He said cyber threats were worrying and it was a new threat, which the ministry had to look into.