Malaysia and China monitoring regional militants

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia and China are closely monitoring the activities of militants in the region to prevent them from establishing a stronghold in South-East Asia, said Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

The Defence Minister said the two countries would work together to dilute the group’s influence in the region, especially after they faced fierce opposition in Syria and Iraq.

“If IS succeeds in building a base in SouthEast Asia, it will not only threaten the security and stability in the Asean region, but also pose a threat to neighbouring countries, including China,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Hishammuddin said regional security issues, IS militant movements and military cooperation between the two countries would take centre stage during his three-day official visit to China which started yesterday.

He is scheduled to meet Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Meng Jianzhu, the State Councillor of the People’s Republic of China Yang Jiechi and his counterpart General Chang Wanquan to discuss bilat- eral ties, specifically in military and defence cooperation.

Hishammuddin, who is also Special Functions Minister, added that the progress of the Littoral Mission Ship constructed by China Shipbuilding andOffshore International Co Ltd and Boustead Naval Shipyard was on track and is expected to be ready by October 2019.

“This demonstrates the close collaboration between both countries which will continue to be strengthened in areas of security, investment, trade, education and tourism,” he said.