Malaysia Refuses US Straits Patrols

[Winter]

Malaysia rejects US sea patrols

Malaysia has rejected a proposal that the United States help patrol one of the world's busiest waterways.

America's top military commander in the region said Washington intended to use US forces to counter possible terrorism in the Straits of Malacca.

However, it appears that he failed to consult Malaysia, which along with Indonesia borders the straits.

Malaysia said the US should have sought its consent on what it called an issue of national sovereignty.

Floating bombs

The head of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Thomas Fargo, said there was widespread support for the initiative.

He wants to deploy speedboats carrying marines and special forces along the narrow straits.

Reports that Islamic militants may be planning to seize vessels to use as floating bombs have fuelled concerns about the rising number of attacks on ships in the region.

The admiral says he has secured Singapore's backing, but the waterway is largely divided between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak politely but firmly turned the admiral down.

He said that Malaysia had no plans for the present to invite the Americans to join in regional security operations.

He gently warned Washington that the US could not deploy its forces without Malaysia's consent, saying it was an issue of national sovereignty.

The United States has dubbed South East Asia its second front in the war on terror and Malaysia has been a valued ally in that war.

However, the Bush administration is unpopular both in Malaysia and Indonesia, and not just among Muslims.

Analysts say there would be considerable public resistance to US military deployment within either country's borders.

Source: BBCNews

 

[CSS]

Hi,

The refusal is expected as our Navy are more than capable to patrol our own area.US always love to show their capability. :mad

Instead of patrolling Straits of Malacca, why not they offer their services to Philipines which I believe really lack of assets to patrol effectively their sea territory?? They the one who need helps...not us or Indonesia.

Keep watching for US action around Southeast Asia, I believe they might consider another place for their `playing field'...

Any ideas??

 

[gf0012-aust]

I'd have to question the ability for Indonesia to patrol the area - the issue has been contentious for a long time and Malay intelligence themselves have questioned the capacity of Indonesia to undertake the job.

They have neither the willpower nor the platforms to do it.

One of the principle problems is that it has long been suspected that local indon commanders are taking kickbacks from some of the regional pirateers. Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand have all agreed that this is one of the main stumbling blocks to Indonesia participating - this has been discussed recently between all of the local "regionals" in the last 6 months

 

[general]

the americans should not be allowed to interfere with the solidarity of any nation.Malaysia can patrol it's own water why not they patol their own.

 

[gf0012-aust]

the americans should not be allowed to interfere with the solidarity of any nation.Malaysia can patrol it's own water why not they patol their own.

Malaysia is able to, SIngapore is able to, Indonesia is NOT able to. This is not a trivial exercise. Indonesia has thousands of islands and an inadequate navy resourced to do it. The Military in Indonesia is structured for primarily "control" of dissidents, sessessionists etc.. It has huge problems in these areas and is more concerned with losing control of a Javan empire than dealing with some international issues.

Both Singapore and Australia have offered money and equipment to Indonesia to assist in these areas. Australia shares intelligence, donates vessels and provides assistance where it can. Singapore has done similar things.

Part of Indonesias problem is local corruption. Local commanders are paid off to ignore pirateers.

These operators are striking in not only in Indon waters with relative impunity, but also in international waters. In International waters it is easy, provide escorts and sink suspect interlopers. If the pirates run for cover, then the escorts will need permission to engage in hot pursuit - something that Indonesia fails to allow. This is irritating the Malays and Singaporeans more than the US as it demonstrates a less than reasonable committment to solving an international problem - it is NOT the US that has triggered these suggestions - it has been raised time and time again in regional meetings such as ASEAN.

Every nation has the right to exercise a committment to protect it's sea based commerce - especially in International waters.

eg 98% of Australias international sea trade comes from the northwest and from those straits. I can assure you that on the day that we have any vessels compromised and there is a continuing demonstration of inertia - we will sink any vessels that jeopardise the safety of our people. Ditto for Singapore, and I suspect Malaysia will do the same. None of us will be waiting for the US to attach some imprimatur to our response.

The indon trade route problem is incredibly complex - it cannot be "dumbed down" to an issue of the US pushing it's ideas across a table and acting like a bully. It may be a popularist perception, but it is considerably removed from the reality of what is occuring and regional moves to resolve it quietly. If the US steps aside, this problem will not go away, and Indonesia will still be unable to resolve it.

Hence why Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, The Philippines were all seeking a multi national task force to assist the Indon navy. The US is a late entrant in this - so to think that it has occurred suddenly and that the US is acting "pushy" merely demonstrates the lack of coverage that has been applied by various regional media networks throughout time.

When I was in Govt, we were discussing the security implications of piracy as far back as 1995 - nothing has changed, Indonesia is still financially unable to deal with it, local corrupation is still present and some vessel owners have resorted to armed teams to act as a deterrent.

Don't confuse the issue by seeing a big bad american plot - it is far more complex than that - and still is.

 

[tatra]

the americans should not be allowed to interfere with the solidarity of any nation.Malaysia can patrol it's own water why not they patol their own.

:? I think the word you were looking for is sovereignty, not solidarity. :idea2

 

[Awang se]

I guess the real concern is, if anything nasty happen to those patrols, it is the country neighbouring the straits that will take the heat. There's too many people here who will die to have one chance to slit the Throat of those marines. So i think, Malaysian view the American involvement as a catalyst for insecurity in this region. Furthermore Malaysian government fear that any incident involving the US military personal will be use as an excuse to widening US involvement in malaysian soil and compromise Malaysian sovereignity.

 

[general]

Malaysia rejects US sea patrols

Malaysia has rejected a proposal that the United States help patrol one of the world's busiest waterways.

America's top military commander in the region said Washington intended to use US forces to counter possible terrorism in the Straits of Malacca.

However, it appears that he failed to consult Malaysia, which along with Indonesia borders the straits.

Malaysia said the US should have sought its consent on what it called an issue of national sovereignty.

Floating bombs

The head of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Thomas Fargo, said there was widespread support for the initiative.

He wants to deploy speedboats carrying marines and special forces along the narrow straits.

Reports that Islamic militants may be planning to seize vessels to use as floating bombs have fuelled concerns about the rising number of attacks on ships in the region.

The admiral says he has secured Singapore's backing, but the waterway is largely divided between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak politely but firmly turned the admiral down.

He said that Malaysia had no plans for the present to invite the Americans to join in regional security operations.

He gently warned Washington that the US could not deploy its forces without Malaysia's consent, saying it was an issue of national sovereignty.

The United States has dubbed South East Asia its second front in the war on terror and Malaysia has been a valued ally in that war.

However, the Bush administration is unpopular both in Malaysia and Indonesia, and not just among Muslims.

Analysts say there would be considerable public resistance to US military deployment within either country's borders.

Source: BBCNews

comrade????
GW???
BTW Indonesia should do more for their coastal areas they are pathetic in terms of defence forces