[Kabar-indonesia] Australia Aircraft May Help Watch Malacca Strait- Malaysia

[Joyo at aol.com]

Associated Press
November 14, 2006

Australia Aircraft May Help Watch Malacca Strait- Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (AP) --Australian surveillance aircraft may
soon assist in spotting pirate vessels entering the Strait
of Malacca as part of a regional effort to secure the
world's busiest waterway, Malaysia's defense chief said
Wednesday.

Adm. Mohamad Anwar Mohamad Nor said the potential assistance
was "at the discussion level" and would soon be debated by
Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia - the three nations
straddling the 900-kilometer strait.

The idea was for Australian planes to "provide an early
warning picture" of ships entering from the Indian Ocean,
Mohamad Anwar said. Information would then be passed onto
the littoral states for enforcement action if necessary.

"The Australian Defense Force has a 'gateway patrol'
operating from Australia and also using our Butterworth base
to the Indian Ocean," Mohamad Anwar said. "With that kind of
capability to patrol areas, we could discuss for them to do
the northern approach to the Strait of Malacca only.

Mohamad Anwar said the idea would be debated at the next
meeting between the littoral states.

The three countries have in recent years conducted
coordinated maritime and air patrols to curb piracy and
address concerns that international terrorists might target
some of the 65,000 vessels that pass through it every year
carrying half the world's oil and more than a third of its
commerce.

Officials had indicated that they might also seek funds and
other assistance to safeguard the strait from the threat of
piracy and terrorism.

Three sea robberies were reported in the strait in the first
half of 2006, down from 18 in the whole of last year and 38
in 2004.

Japan has given a training vessel to Malaysia's coast guard,
while the U.S., China and South Korea are also considering
ways to help, officials have said.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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