KL to offer navy escorts for ships

KL to offer navy escorts for ships

MALAYSIA: Navy personnel will escort commercial ships traveling through Malaysian waters if the risk of a pirate or terrorist attack on them is deemed high, news reports said on Sunday.

Protection would only be offered to "high risk" vessels that want assurances of safe passage through Malaysian waters, said Defense Minister Najib Razak.

The Malacca Straits - which separates peninsular Malaysia from Indonesia's Sumatra island - is one of the world's busiest and most strategic waterways. It has been hit by rising piracy and is considered vulnerable to terrorism.

"We are ready to provide the escort service if requested, but it does not mean we have to look after all ships passing through our waters," Najib was quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times newspaper.

Najib said the government would bear the cost of the service, stressing that there was no need for other countries to have a role in safeguarding Malaysian waters.

Malaysia has objected in recent weeks to unconfirmed reports that Washington wants to send U.S. Marine fast-response units to help keep peace in the Malacca Straits. --AP