‘Asia Pacific must unite to act against security threat’
DANANG: Malaysia will continue to push for efforts to ensure peace and stability in Asia Pacific amid increasing security challenges being faced in the region.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said governments cannot stand by and do nothing, and must contribute to fostering a shared future.
“I hope and pray that after the Apec and Asean summits, we will have made strong progress in doing so,” Najib said in his blog, NajibRazak.com as he left for Danang to join other world leaders on the eve of the Apec summit.
He will depart for Manila on Sunday to attend the Asean summit where the 10 regional leaders will hold several meetings with their dialogue partners.
Najib said Asia Pacific countries faced huge challenges, from rising tension on the Korean Peninsula to the scourge of Islamic State and its regional affiliates in South-East Asia and mass migration in the Andaman Sea.
“A gathering of world leaders, such as this, must take advantage of being together to consider what we all collectively can do to take action,” he added.
Najib also spoke at length on Malaysia’s strong condemnation of North Korea nuclear tests and the catastrophe that could be created as well as IS-linked attacks in Malaysia.
He also said the Government had introduced a raft of counter-terrorism legislation over the last few years to deal with terror threats.
He said the Marawi city siege in the Philippines was a real and present threat in the region which should not be underestimated.
“I will never apologise for putting the safety and security of the Malaysian people first,” said Najib.