KL seeking U.S. participation in Malacca Strait air patrol

KL seeking U.S. participation in Malacca Strait air patrol

Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia said on Monday that nations bordering the piracy-prone
Strait of Malacca were seeking United States participation in air
patrols, but that it would only play a supporting role.

Defense Minister Najib Razak said the U.S. could provide
aircraft for the "Eyes in the Sky" coordinated patrols launched
by Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand last month.

But after briefing Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and
Public Affairs Karen Hughes on the initiative, he emphasized that
primary responsibility for security along the strategic waterway
belonged to the Asian nations.

U.S. participation "must not undermine national sovereignty of
the littoral states," Najib told reporters.

"The basic concept is that they can provide platforms but the
consoles will be manned by persons from the littoral states,
including Malaysia. If there needs to be any interception, that
will be done by littoral states," he said.

Najib said "platforms" included providing aircraft, which
under the scheme will communicate with Eyes in the Sky operations
centers. But "the important thing is the consoles, the monitors,
must be manned by our people," he said.

The defense minister said the coordinated air patrols, which
were launched in an effort to curb piracy and improve counter-
terrorism measures in the strait, were steadily getting off the
ground.

"We're trying to work out the manual now, the details," he
said. "But the operations are going on between Malaysia and
Singapore. There are two flights a week. But we hope this will
just be the beginning."