Malaysia beefs up security in strait<\/p>\n
MALAYSIA: Malaysia's newly created coast guard has launched
\npatrols in the Malacca Strait to boost security against piracy
\nand the threat of terrorism in the busy shipping lane, the
\ncountry's deputy leader said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency began its
\nsurveillance on Wednesday with three vessels in the strait
\nbetween peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia's Sumatra island,
\nDeputy Prime Minister Najib Razak told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"It is the first time in history that we have a fully
\nintegrated organization ... in terms of maritime security,\" Najib
\nsaid. \"I'm confident it will be very much welcomed by our people
\nas well as by the international community, particularly in the
\nlight of (security concerns in) the Straits of Malacca.\"<\/p>\n
Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have promised to boost
\ncooperation to protect the narrow waterway, amid concern in
\nWashington and elsewhere that terrorists could hijack a ship and
\nuse it as a weapon or launch attacks that could disrupt the
\nbillions of dollars of trade that depend on the strait.<\/p>\n
Authorities envision the new Malaysian agency will eventually
\nhave 4,000 personnel operating with dozens of boats and aircraft.
\nPreviously, various government departments separately enforced
\nmaritime laws, conducted surveillance and coordinated rescue
\noperations.<\/p>\n
The agency is based at Lumut Naval Base in northwestern
\nMalaysia. -- AP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysia-beefs-up-security-in-strait-1447893297",
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